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Increased Induction of Skin Tumors by Pretreatment with Croton Oil^*

Albert Tannenbaum, S. D. Vesselinovitch and Herbert Silverstone

( Department of Cancer Research, Medical Research Institute, Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center,^, Chicago, Ill.)

A number of investigators have concluded that, in contrast to the remarkable augmenting action of croton oil in experimental skin carcinogenesis when this agent is applied after the carcinogen, it has no influence when applied before exposure to the carcinogen. Three long-term studies were performed to test this view.

The findings clearly demonstrate that pretreatment with croton oil resulted in a small but significant increase in the incidence of skin tumors and of carcinomas only, as well as an increased proportion of malignant neoplasms. This increase, however, was of lesser magnitude than the striking enhancement of the incidence of skin tumors produced by post-treatment with croton oil. It was concluded that croton oil possesses both mild carcinogenic activity and strong augmenting properties.

^* This investigation was supported by Public Health Service Research Grant CA 03787 from the National Cancer Institute.

Deceased May 31, 1956.

Supported, in part, by the Foundation for Cancer Research, Chicago.

Received 6/12/63.