γH2AX as a novel endpoint to detect DNA damage: Applications for the assessment of the in vitro genotoxicity of cigarette smoke

► H2AX is phosphorylated to γH2AX in the event of double-strand DNA breaks. ► γH2AX can be detected and quantified giving a correlation with the number of DSBs. ► The γH2AX assay could become a complement to the battery of genotoxicity testing. ► Application of the γH2AX assay to measure DSBs in vitro in tobacco product testing.