Prevention of doxorubicin-induced skin ulcers in the rat and pig with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO).

Ten potential agents were tested in the Sprague-Dawley rat, using the method of Rudolph et al, which produces skin ulcers with 0.4 mg of doxorubicin intradermally. One antidote, dimethyl sulfoxide (100%, 0.6 ml for 7 days), prevented ulcer formation not only at the local site but also at the doxorubicin control injection site. Similar ulcers were produced in the Yorkshire pig with 2.0 mg of intradermal doxorubicin injection. These ulcers were prevented at both local and distant control sites with dimethyl sulfoxide given for 7 days.