Report on Carcinogens Handbook on Methods for Conducting Cancer Hazard Evaluations

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The Report on Carcinogens (RoC) Handbook (2025) updates the 2015 version. It provides methods for conducting a robust and transparent evaluation to determine whether a substance is a cancer hazard. Collectively, the handbook includes a suite of tools, approaches, resources, and guidance that reflect scientific best practices.

The RoC Handbook has methods for all steps of the cancer hazard evaluation process. The topics covered include:

• Developing and planning the evaluation framework
• Human exposure data evaluation
• Human cancer studies evaluation
• Experimental animal cancer studies evaluation
• Disposition and toxicokinetic data evaluation
• Mechanistic data evaluation
• Evidence integration and cancer hazard conclusion

RoC short communication published in Environment International (September 2026).

• Lunn, R. M., Arroyave, W. D., Guha, N., Atwood, S. T., Bisson, W., Cuomo, D., Ewens, A. D., Garner, S. C., Hodgson, M. E., Jahnke, G. D., Marder, M. E., Peters, A. F., Rooney, A. A., Schwingl, P. J., Wang, A., & Mehta, S. S. (2026). Novel and rigorous methods for identifying cancer hazards: The updated Report on Carcinogens Handbook. Environment International, 215, 110517. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2026.110517

The RoC Handbook will be updated as methods, tools, and approaches for cancer hazard evaluations evolve.

• NIEHS Environmental Factor article (June 2, 2025) Cancer assessments handbook updated, published; Video

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