title: Quinolone antibacterials: a new class of photochemical carcinogens.
abstract: Hairless mice were exposed orally to antibiotics of the fluoroquinolone group alone and in combination with irradiation with UVA over an extended period of time to determine the possible skin carcinogenicity in comparison with that with 8-methoxypsoralen, i.e. a known photochemical skin carcinogen. Animals exposed to UVA and fleroxacin, ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid and ofloxacin exhibited an increase in the number of benign skin tumors when compared with animals exposed to UVA alone. Animals exposed to lomefloxacin and UVA exhibited a specific type of neoplastic progression. In addition to benign papillomas and solar keratoses, a number of cystic squamous cell carcinomas were observed. In the positive control group, which was given 8-methoxypsoralen and UVA, a number of papillomas and superficial squamous cell carcinomas were found. In animals exposed to UVA alone, only a few benign tumors were seen; in unexposed animals, no cutaneous neoplasms were observed. It is concluded that fluoroquinolones warrant further study, because they have potential photocarcinogenic properties.
authors.affiliation: University of Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mäkinen
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Forbes
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stenbäck
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000633:toxicity; D017484:Dermatitis, Phototoxic / Q000473:pathology*; D016576:Fleroxacin / Q000633:toxicity; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D008730:Methoxsalen / Q000633:toxicity; D051379:Mice; D008812:Mice, Hairless; D009268:Nalidixic Acid / Q000633:toxicity; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology*; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000633:toxicity; D010212:Papilloma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D015363:Quinolones / Q000633:toxicity; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D015363:Quinolones; D009268:Nalidixic Acid; D002939:Ciprofloxacin; D015242:Ofloxacin; C053091:lomefloxacin; D016576:Fleroxacin; D008730:Methoxsalen