Ornithine Decarboxylase as a Target for Chemoprevention of Basal and Squamous Cell Carcinomas in Ptch1+/– Mice

The study demonstrated that ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) played a crucial role in the development of basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) in Ptch1+/– mice, which are genetically predisposed to these tumors. Overexpression of ODC in these mice increased the induction of BCCs when exposed to UVB radiation. Conversely, inhibiting ODC activity through genetic or pharmacological means, such as with the ODC inhibitor α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), significantly reduced the incidence and size of UVB-induced BCCs. The study involved 60 Ptch1+/– mice and suggested that targeting ODC could be an effective chemopreventive strategy against BCCs in humans, with DFMO showing potential as a chemopreventive agent despite some reversible ototoxicity at high doses.