Short-Term Biomarkers of Cigarette Smoke Condensate Tumor Promoting Potential in Mouse Skin

The study investigated the effects of cigarette smoke condensates (CSCs) on mouse skin, focusing on hyperplasia and inflammation as short-term biomarkers of tumor promotion. Using a truncated initiation-promotion protocol, the research assessed epidermal thickness, proliferative index, and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) expression after CSC application. Results showed that CSCs increased these markers, with partial reversibility in interfollicular areas but sustained elevation in perifollicular regions. The study highlighted perifollicular ODC expression as a promising indicator for evaluating CSCs due to its rapid induction, low threshold, and potential to reflect irreversible changes, aligning with the notion that ODC expression is crucial for tumor promotion and that tumors primarily originate in the perifollicular epidermis.