Tumorigenic effect of some commonly used moisturizing creams when applied topically to UVB-pretreated high-risk mice.
Irradiation of SKH-1 mice with UVB (30 mJ cm(-2)) twice a week for 20 weeks resulted in mice with a high risk of developing skin tumors over the next several months in the absence of further irradiation with UVB (high-risk mice). Topical applications of 100 mg of Dermabase, Dermovan, Eucerin Original Moisturizing Cream (Eucerin), or Vanicream once a day, 5 days a week for 17 weeks to these high-risk mice increased significantly the rate of formation of tumors and the rate of increase in tumor size per mouse. Additional studies indicated that treatment of high-risk mice with Dermabase, Dermovan, Eucerin, or Vanicream for 17 weeks increased the total number of histologically characterized tumors by 69% (average of two experiments; P<0.0001 in each experiment), 95% (P<0.0001), 24% (P<0.01), and 58% (P<0.0001), respectively. Topical applications of a specially designed Custom Blend cream to high-risk mice was not tumorigenic. The results indicate that several commercially available moisturizing creams increase the rate of formation and number of tumors when applied topically to UVB-pretreated high-risk mice. Further studies are needed to determine the effects of topical applications of moisturizing creams on sunlight-induced skin cancer in humans.
Lu
Yao-Ping
YP
Susan Lehman Cullman Laboratory for Cancer Research, Department of Chemical Biology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854-8020, USA.
Lou
You-Rong
YR
Xie
Jian-Guo
JG
Peng
Qingyun
Q
Shih
Weichung J
WJ
Lin
Yong
Y
Conney
Allan H
AH
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D004643:Emollients / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D008055:Lipids / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008812:Mice, Hairless; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014867:Water / Q000494:pharmacology
D004643:Emollients; D008055:Lipids; D014867:Water; C039909:eucerin