A Definitive Role of Ornithine Decarboxylase in Photocarcinogenesis

The study from September 2001 demonstrated that ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) played a crucial role in UVB-induced skin carcinogenesis. Using K5/ODC transgenic mice, researchers found that UVB exposure significantly increased ODC activity, leading to the development of epidermal tumors in 40% of the mice, while nontransgenic mice did not develop tumors. The study concluded that inhibiting ODC with α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) completely prevented tumor formation, suggesting that ODC inhibitors could be a potential therapeutic strategy for preventing UV-induced skin cancer.