[Utilisation of cell transformation tests in the detection of chemical carcinogens (author's transl)].

A great variety of practical short term tests for detecting potential carcinogenic chemicals have been proposed over the last ten years. Tests based on the cellular transformation of mammalian cells in culture are included in this group. After a brief review of the different characteristics of this transformation, the principal cell systems, the methods used and the results obtained by authors who developed and/or use these tests, are presented. It seems justified to include the simplest and most reliable of these tests in the battery of screening tests for the research of potential carcinogenic properties of chemicals. The present orientation of research, likely to lead to more discriminating tests, is discussed.