Selective promoting activity of phorbol myristate acetate in experimental skin carcinogenesis

Experiments were undertaken to study the effect of promotion treatment on epidermal tumour induction pattern in precancerous mouse skin. Swiss albino mice were given a single s.c. injection of 0-5 mg 20-methylcholanthrene in the right scapular region. Six weeks later, 1-83 nmol of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) was applied biweekly on the reactive skin. Histopathology of the induced tumours showed early appearance of squamous cell carcinomas and rhabdomyosarcomas. Fibrosarcoma, the most common tumour type induced on MCA injection alone, was absent. Trichoepithelioma, a benign tumour, was induced in PMA-treated mice. This gives new evidence of the selective action of PMA, enhancing the induction of epithelial and muscle tumours, with concurrent inhibition of fibroblastic tumours.