title: The effect of short-term application of PABA on photocarcinogenesis.
abstract: Photocarcinogenesis was induced in 90 lightly-pigmented hairless mice using a Philips Tl 40 W/12 light source which emits mainly UVB (290-320 nm). During one-third of the induction period (weeks 16-26) a group of 30 mice were protected by topical para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) and then irradiated again without protection up to week 30 and observed for a further 10 weeks. The application of PABA resulted in a significant delay (p less than 0.05) in tumour induction and discontinuation of PABA caused an abrupt decline in the number of tumour-free animals. At the end of the study there was a significant difference in the yield of carcinomas for the PABA group, 20, compared with 78 for non-protected mice (p less than 0.05). There was also a statistically significant difference (p less than 0.05) between the weight of dorsal skin in non-protected mice compared with the PABA-protected group, the latter showing no difference from a control group of non-irradiated mice. The proportion of benign tumours in the PABA group was significantly (p less than 0.05) higher than in the non-protected group, suggesting an inhibition of the photo-carcinogenic process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Ullevaal Hospital, University of Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Flindt-Hansen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thune
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eeg-Larsen
mesh_terms: D010129:4-Aminobenzoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D001706:Biopsy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008812:Mice, Hairless; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011897:Random Allocation; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013997:Time Factors; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D010129:4-Aminobenzoic Acid