Induction of the polyamine-biosynthetic enzymes in mouse epidermis and their specificity for tumor promotion.

The induction of ornithine decarboxylase and S-adenosyl-L-methionine decarboxylase in mouse epidermis by various classes of tumor-promoting and nonpromoting compounds has been studied in order to determine the specificity of this response for tumor promotion. The effect of topical applications of a series of phorbol esters on these enzyme activities correlated well with their promoting abilities. Iodoacetic acid, anthralin, and Tween 60, all promoting compounds, also stimulated both of these enzyme activities after single and multiple applications. The hyperplastic agents acetic acid, cantharidin, and ethyl phenylpropriolate, however, had little effect on ornithine decarboxylase activity but a pronounced effect on epidermal S-adenosyl-L-methionine decarboxylase activity. The specificity of the ornithine decarboxylase response for tumor promotion was suggested by the results of the above experiments as well as the stimulatory effect of a completely carcinogenic dose of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene; a lower initiating dose had no effect. In addition, epidermal tumors produced by a two-stage procedure showed consistently high levels of ornithine decarboxylase activity but variable levels of S-adenosyl-L-methionine decarboxylase activity.