Role of iron-dextran on 7,12-dimethylbenz(a) anthracene-initiated and croton oil-promoted cutaneous tumorigenesis in normal and pregnant mice.

Abstract

Skin chemical carcinogenesis has been divided into the process of initiation, promotion and progression. Earlier, we showed the role of iron overload in the promotion stage of skin carcinogenesis. In this communication, we report that iron overload does not augment croton oil-mediated tumor promotion in 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-initiated pregnant mice skin tumorigenesis. Virgin female Swiss mice were given 1 mg iron/mouse/day parenterally for 2 weeks to induce iron overload. After the last injection, a group of mice was left with male mice for 10 days. These animals showed an increase in cutaneous iron concentration as compared to normal mice. Papillomas were induced in mice skin by a single topical application of DMBA as initiator. A week after the initiation, promoting agent, croton oil was applied twice per week for 20 weeks. The appearance of the first tumor (papilloma), number of tumors/mouse and percentage incidence were recorded. When compared to the iron unloaded control and iron overload pregnant groups, the iron overload virgin animals showed an increased incidence of tumors. In iron overload virgin animals, tumors appeared earlier and also the numbers of tumors/mouse were significantly higher. However, in iron overload pregnant animals, diminished tumor incidence was observed and the numbers of tumors matched the result of normal pregnant animals. Our results show that iron overload in pregnant mice does not participate in the augmentation of DMBA- and croton oil-induced skin tumorigenesis.