The human epidermal cell asay for chemopreventive agents

Methods are described for a human keratinocyte assay for screening cancer preventive agents. Normal human keratinocytes at the first or second subculture are seeded into multi-well dishes. Cultures are repeatedly exposed to the carcinogen, propane sultone, and nontoxic concentrations of potential chemopreventive agents. At the end of the exposure period, the cultures are evaluated for growth and involucrin expression. Data are analyzed to determine the potential for test agents to inhibit propane sultone induced growth or to induce involucrin expression relative to that in propane sultone treated controls.