Anchorage independent colony growth of fetal hamster lung epithelial cells after treatment with diepoxybutane

To test the reliability of a new cell transformation assay, a cloned fetal Syrian hamster lung epithelial cell line (M3E3/C3) was used. The target cells originating from the respiratory tract were treated in vitro over a concentration range of 0–10 −5 M/l with diepoxybutane, cultured during the expression period of 28 or 35 days and then transferred into soft agar. Anchorage independent colony growth in soft agar occurs only if cells are transformed. Growth and number of colonies were taken as a score of the carcinogenic potential of the test substance. Under the conditions of this cell transformation assay it was possible to detect the carcinogenic potential of diepoxybutane unequivocally.