Bhas 42 cell line (Bhas 42)

Bhas 42 cells are an immortalized mouse fibroblast cell line established by transfecting BALB/c 3T3 cells with the v-Ha-ras oncogene [6, 11]. This genetic modification renders the cells "initiated" in the multistage process of carcinogenesis, making them highly sensitive to tumor promoters as well as initiating agents [1, 11]. They are the central component of the Bhas 42 cell transformation assay (CTA), an OECD-validated in vitro test used to identify chemical carcinogens and assess their potential to induce malignant transformation [1, 3, 11]. In these assays, the primary endpoint is the formation of morphologically distinct transformed foci, which represent cells that have lost contact inhibition and acquired invasive properties [1, 2]. While the cell line is a critical tool in regulatory toxicology and preclinical safety assessment, it is not a drug target itself; rather, it serves as a sensitive biological system for modeling the hallmarks of cancer development and screening for environmental or pharmaceutical hazards [2, 5, 10].

Other names

Bhas42v-Ha-ras transfected BALB/c 3T3 cell lineBhas 42 mouse fibroblast cell line

Not applicable (this is a cell line used for testing, not a therapeutic target)