Press Release: August 2006.
Gentronix is unveiling its novel high-throughput genotoxicity screening assay at Drug Discovery Technology (August 7-10 Boston, MA). Utilising human cells, GreenScreen HC is the first in vitro mammalian cell assay suitable for HTS. It has a unique combination of both exceptionally high sensitivity and specificity.
Highly accurate early predictor of genotoxic carcinogenicity
Early validation has already demonstrated that GreenScreen HC can clearly distinguish between true and falsely positive indications of cancer hazard (a common problem with current in vitro mammalian assays). Genuinely hazardous genotoxic compounds can be identified before proceeding to development, (giving significant reductions in wasted time, compound, costs and animal testing). At the same time, harmless compounds falsely identified as genotoxic by current in vitro mammalian assays are less likely to be withdrawn unnecessarily from further development.
Microplate assay detects all mechanistic classes of genotoxins
GreenScreen HC comprises a repair-competent human cell line with a Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) reporter system. It detects all direct acting mechanistic classes of genotoxic chemicals, as well as aneugens and compounds disrupting DNA replication and repair. Results recently reported by Gentronix and GSK in Mutation Research show GreenScreen HC to have sensitivity comparable to that of existing mammalian in vitro genotoxic assays, but uniquely combined with very high levels of specificity.
Developed as a high-throughput 96 well microplate assay, the simple assay format requires only a small amount of compound and is easily integrated with standard automation equipment to provide the ideal early screening tool.
Fulfills urgent need for more accurate genotoxicity tests
During a recent workshop organized by ECVAM (European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods) there was a consensus that the high occurrence of irrelevant positive results in genotoxicity tests in vitro is unacceptable, and that there is an urgent need for more accurate in vitro genotoxicity tests. This supports Gentronix’s belief that GreenScreen HC will become a valuable new tool in reducing compound attrition due to genotoxicity.
The assay is detailed in the following recent publication:
Paul. W. Hastwell et.al. (2006), High-specificity and high-sensitivity genotoxicity assessment in a human cell line: Validation of the GreenScreen HC GADD45a-GFP genotoxicity assay.