TUMOR-PRODUCING ACTIVITY OF DITHRANOL (ANTHRALIN) AND 2 OF ITS 10-ACYL ANALOGS IN THE DORSAL SKIN OF FEMALE NMRI MICE

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 229  (1) , 255-260
Abstract
The tumor-producing activity of local applications of dithranol [used in the treatment of psoriasis], 10-propionyl dithranol and butantrone was studied in 420 female white NMRI mice. An initiation with 20 .mu.g of 7,12-dimethylbenz(.alpha.)anthracene (DMBA) was followed 2 wk later by 3 applications/wk of the test compounds in 50 .mu.l of acetone for 50 wk. Several control groups receiving only acetone or DMBA and test compounds without DMBA were included. Ditranol and 10-propionyl dithranol caused transient, although serious, skin irritation during the first 2 wk of the treatment. Hyperplasia was a common finding in the same groups at the end of the treatment. Dithranol (3.5 mM) induced 11 papillomas in 8 mice (26.7%) without DMBA and 29 papillomas in 17 mice (56.7%) with DMBA. 10-Propionyl dithranol was tumorigenic as well; 3.5 mM caused 15 papillomas in 11 mice (36.6%) without DMBA and 28 papillomas in 17 mice (56.7%) with DMBA and 1.5 mM with DMBA caused 7 papillomas in 6 mice (20%). In the butantrone groups, there was only 1 single papilloma with the 1.5 mM concentration plus DMBA. In contrast to dithranol and 10-propionyl dithranol, butantrone (3.5 mM) is evidently not tumorigenic in the dorsal murine skin.