The cytotoxicity of 50 chemicals from the MEIC study determined by growth inhibition of ascites sarcoma BP8 cells: a comparison with acute toxicity data in man and rodents.

In this study, 50 chemicals selected on the basis of existence of particularly reliable human toxicity data were screened in a cytotoxicity test involving inhibition of the growth of Ascites Sarcoma BP8 cells. These test results are part of an international validation program, the Multicenter Evaluation of In Vitro Cytotoxicity (MEIC), the aim of which is to recommend batteries of in vitro tests to be used for prediction of human toxicity. The cytotoxicities (expressed as the concentrations causing 50% inhibition of cell growth) were compared to acute toxicity data in humans (LDL0) and rodents (LD50), showing the best correlation to rodent data. The results are discussed in relationship to what is usually referred to as basal cytotoxic mechanisms as a cause of in vivo toxicity. It could be concluded that the predicted results on the basis of mechanistic reasoning were not always obtained.