Tumorigenesis in Mouse Skin: Inhibition by Synthetic Inhibitors of Proteases

Abstract

Three synthetic inhibitors of proteases (tosyl lysine chloromethyl ketone, tosyl phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone, and tosyl arginine methyl ester) inhibit the tumorigenesis initiated in mouse skin by 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene and promoted by croton oil or its active principle, phorbol ester. These protease inhibitors, when applied directly to mouse skin, inhibit some of the irritant effects of the tumor promoter and are not toxic.