SKIN PAPILLOMA PRODUCTION BY ANTHRALIN PAINTING AFTER URETHAN INITIATION IN MICE

Abstract

The ability of Anthralin to induce tumors was tested on the skin of mice pretreated with intraperitoneal injections of urethan and was compared with that of croton oil. Anthralin after urethan treatment was found to be somewhat less active than croton oil in papilloma production. It was worth noting that Anthralin, as well as croton oil, was not only active as a promoter but capable of tumor production by itself. Skin papillomas were induced in two phases. The early appearance was due to the activity of the promoting agents on urethan-sensitized skin and the late appearance seemed to be due to the urethan-independent oncogenic ability of the chemicals. The regression of the tumors and the inflammatory reaction prior to papilloma production are also discussed.