Federal Agency Responses to Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM) Recommendations on the Usefulness and Limitations of the LUMI-CELL® ER (BG1Luc ER TA) Test Method, An In Vitro Assay for Identifying Human Estrogen Receptor Agonist and Antagonist Activity of Chemicals
Federal Register, Volume 77 Issue 162 (Tuesday, August 21, 2012)
Federal Register Volume 77, Number 162 (Tuesday, August 21, 2012)
Notices
Pages 50510-50511
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office www.gpo.gov
FR Doc No: 2012-20549
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Federal Agency Responses to Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM) Recommendations on the Usefulness and Limitations of the LUMI-CELLsupreg ER (BG1Luc ER TA) Test Method, An In Vitro Assay for Identifying Human Estrogen Receptor Agonist and Antagonist Activity of Chemicals
AGENCY: Division of the National Toxicology Program (DNTP), National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), HHS.
ACTION: Availability of Agency Responses.
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SUMMARY: The NTP Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods (NICEATM) announces availability of U.S. Federal agency responses to ICCVAM test method recommendations on the usefulness and limitations of the LUMI-CELLsupreg ER (BG1Luc ER TA) test method to identify human estrogen receptor (ER) agonist and antagonist activity of chemicals. ICCVAM forwarded the recommendations to Federal agencies and made these recommendations available to the public (77 FR 8258). ICCVAM agencies responded with their concurrence on the technical aspects of the BG1Luc ER transcriptional activation (TA) test method recommendations and their agreement that the ICCVAM BG1Luc ER TA test method is a validated screening test to identify substances with in vitro ER agonist activity or ER antagonist activity. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) responded that they regard the BG1Luc ER TA test method as an alternative to the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) 890.1300 (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD TG455) test guideline for transcriptional activation currently used in their Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP). Several agencies also indicated that they would communicate the ICCVAM recommendations to stakeholders and encourage their appropriate use. Complete Federal agency responses are available at http://iccvam.niehs.nih.gov/methods/endocrine/end_eval.htm. The ICCVAM recommendations are provided in the ICCVAM test method evaluation report (ICCVAM, 2011), available at: http://iccvam.niehs.nih.gov/methods/endocrine/ERTA-TMER.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Warren M. Casey, Deputy Director, NICEATM, NIEHS, P.O. Box 12233, Mail Stop: K2-16, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, (telephone) 919-316-4729, (fax) 919-541-0947, (email) niceatm@niehs.nih.gov. Courier address: NICEATM, NIEHS, Room 2032, 530 Davis Drive, Morrisville, NC 27560.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
In 2002, ICCVAM evaluated the validation status of in vitro ER and androgen receptor (AR) binding and TA test methods for potential use in the EPA EDSP. The evaluation indicated that no in vitro ER- or AR-based test methods were adequately validated for this purpose. In response to an ICCVAM request for nominations, Xenobiotic Detection Systems, Inc. (XDS, Durham, NC) nominated the in vitro LUMI-CELLsupreg ER (BG1Luc ER TA) test method for an interlaboratory validation study. ICCVAM and the Scientific Advisory Committee on Alternative Toxicological Methods (SACATM) recommended that the nominated method should be considered a high priority based on the lack of adequately validated test methods and the regulatory and public health need for such test methods. NICEATM led the international validation study with its partners in Japan (JaCVAM) and Europe (ECVAM), using laboratories sponsored by each validation organization. ICCVAM also proposed the development of BG1Luc ER TA test method performance standards.
Following completion of the validation study, the ICCVAM Interagency Endocrine Disruptor Working Group, working with NICEATM, prepared a draft background review document (BRD) and draft recommendations for use of the BG1Luc ER TA test method.
The draft BRD and draft ICCVAM recommendations were reviewed in a public meeting (76 FR 4113) of an international independent scientific peer review panel in March 2011. The peer review panel agreed with the draft ICCVAM recommendations that the BG1Luc ER TA test method could be used as a screening test to identify substances with in vitro ER agonist activity or ER antagonist activity and that the accuracy of this assay is at least equivalent to that of EPA OCSPP 890.1300, part of the EDSP Tier 1 screening battery.
The final ICCVAM recommendations are included in the ICCVAM Test Method Evaluation Report: The LUMI-CELLsupreg ER (BG1Luc ER TA) Test Method, An In Vitro Assay for Identifying Human Estrogen Receptor Agonist and Antagonist Activity of Chemicals (NIH Publication No. 11-
7850). The test method evaluation report also includes the updated ICCVAM-recommended BG1Luc ER TA test method protocol and performance standards that are applicable to functionally and mechanistically similar test methods. The final BRD, including the data and analyses on which the recommendations are based, is included as an appendix to the test method evaluation report.
Agency Responses to ICCVAM Recommendations
In February 2012, ICCVAM forwarded final test method recommendations on the BG1Luc ER TA test method to U.S. Federal agencies for consideration (77 FR 8258), in accordance with the ICCVAM Authorization Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 285l-3). The ICCVAM Authorization Act requires member agencies to review ICCVAM test method recommendations and notify ICCVAM in writing of their findings no later than 180 days after receipt of recommendations. The Act also requires ICCVAM to make ICCVAM recommendations and agency responses available to the public. Agency responses are to include identification of relevant test methods for which the ICCVAM test method recommendations may be added or substituted and indicate any revisions or planned revisions to existing guidelines, guidances, or regulations to be made in response to these recommendations.
ICCVAM agencies responded with their concurrence on the technical aspects of the BG1Luc ER TA test method recommendation and their agreement that the ICCVAM BG1Luc ER TA test method is a validated screening test to identify substances with in vitro ER agonist activity or ER antagonist activity. The EPA responded that they regard the BG1Luc ER TA test method as an alternative to the OCSPP 890.1300 test guideline for transcriptional activation currently used in their EDSP. Several agencies also indicated that they would communicate the ICCVAM recommendations to stakeholders and encourage their appropriate use. Complete agency responses are available at http://iccvam.niehs.nih.gov/methods/endocrine/end_eval.htm.
Background Information on ICCVAM, NICEATM, and SACATM
ICCVAM is an interagency committee composed of representatives from 15 Federal regulatory and research agencies that require, use, generate, or disseminate toxicological and safety
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testing information. ICCVAM conducts technical evaluations of new, revised, and alternative safety testing methods with regulatory applicability and promotes the scientific validation and regulatory acceptance of toxicological and safety-testing methods that more accurately assess the safety and hazards of chemicals and products and that reduce, refine (enhance animal welfare and lessen or avoid unrelieved pain and distress), or replace animal use. The ICCVAM Authorization Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 285l-3) established ICCVAM as a permanent interagency committee of the NIEHS under NICEATM. NICEATM administers ICCVAM, provides scientific and operational support for ICCVAM-related activities, and conducts independent validation studies to assess the usefulness and limitations of new, revised, and alternative test methods and strategies. NICEATM and ICCVAM work collaboratively to evaluate new and improved test methods and strategies applicable to the needs of U.S. Federal agencies. NICEATM and ICCVAM welcome the public nomination of new, revised, and alternative test methods and strategies applicable to the needs of Federal agencies. Additional information about NICEATM and ICCVAM can be found on the NICEATM-ICCVAM Web site (http://iccvam.niehs.nih.gov).
SACATM was established in response to the ICCVAM Authorization Act (42 U.S.C. 285l-3) and is composed of scientists from the public and private sectors. SACATM advises ICCVAM, NICEATM, and the Director of the NIEHS and NTP regarding statutorily mandated duties of ICCVAM and activities of NICEATM. SACATM provides advice on priorities and activities related to the development, validation, scientific review, regulatory acceptance, implementation, and national and international harmonization of new, revised, and alternative toxicological test methods. Additional information about SACATM, including the charter, roster, and records of past meetings, can be found at http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/167.
References
ICCVAM. 2011. ICCVAM Test Method Evaluation Report: The LUMI-
CELLsupreg ER (BG1Luc ER TA) Test Method: An In Vitro Assay for Identifying Human Estrogen Receptor Agonist and Antagonist Activity of Chemicals. NIH Publication No. 11-7850. Research Triangle Park, NC: NIEHS. Available: http://iccvam.niehs.nih.gov/methods/endocrine/ERTA-TMER.htm.
Dated: August 13, 2012.
John R. Bucher,
Associate Director, National Toxicology Program.
FR Doc. 2012-20549 Filed 8-20-12; 8:45 am
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