GENETIC TOXICITY AND POTENTIAL CARCINOGENICITY OF TAXOL

The activity of the antineoplastic agent taxol depends upon its abilit y to inhibit tubulin disassembly in dividing cells. We show here that taxol gives a strong positive response in the mouse bone marrow micron ucleus assay. This is the first report of its genetic toxicity. The ma jority of antineoplastic agents are carcinogenic to humans, and the ma jority of human carcinogens are active in the mouse bone marrow micron ucleus assay. The present data therefore indicate a carcinogenic poten tial of taxol for humans, which should be considered in the risk-benef it analysis of its increasing clinical use.