On the problem that some known carcinogens do not appear to be mutagens in short-term tests

An explanation is sought as to why certain known carcinogens do not appear to be mutagens. It is hypothesized that an intermediary substance and not the suspected carcinogen itself, is the actual carcinogen. A model for the mechanism of carcinogenesis is constructed utilizing forms of DNA damage and repair as known at present. When equations are obtained for the carcinogenic response via this intermediary substance, it is found that these equations can explain not only the commonly observed response patterns. but also certain peculiarities in response which have been observed in some experiments. An experiment to estimate the ratios of the parameters in the model could show if indeed this is the mechanism that occurs and possibly identify the type of damage that leads to carcinogenesis.