Methods for quantifying carcinogen-induced transformation of diploid human fibroblasts to anchorage independence

Abstract

We have determined the assay conditions necessary for quantifying the frequency of carcinogen-induced transformation of diploid human fibroblasts to anchorage independence. Emphasis is placed on the importance of using medium that supports clonal growth of the particular type of cells under investigation and titrating the percent of fetal bovine serum used in the assay to obtain a low, but measurable number of anchorage-independent colonies in the untreated control cultures. With this method, the target cells can be derived from adults as well as newborns and need not be in early passage, as long as they are able to grow vigorously.