TY - JOUR

T1 - Oral intake of bucillamine, carvedilol, metformin, or phenformin does not protect against UVR-induced squamous cell carcinomas in hairless mice

AU - Pihl, Celina

AU - Bjerring, Peter

AU - Andersen, Flemming

AU - Haedersdal, Merete

AU - Lerche, Catharina M.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2024.

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - Squamous cell carcinoma represents the second most common type of keratinocyte carcinoma with ultraviolet radiation (UVR) making up the primary risk factor. Oral photoprotection aims to reduce incidence rates through oral intake of photoprotective compounds. Recently, drug repurposing has gained traction as an interesting source of chemoprevention. Because of their reported photoprotective properties, we investigated the potential of bucillamine, carvedilol, metformin, and phenformin as photoprotective compounds following oral intake in UVR-exposed hairless mice. Tumour development was observed in all groups in response to UVR, with only the positive control (Nicotinamide) demonstrating a reduction in tumour incidence (23.8%). No change in tumour development was observed in the four repurposed drug groups compared to the UV control group, whereas nicotinamide significantly reduced carcinogenesis (P = 0.00012). Metformin treatment significantly reduced UVR-induced erythema (P = 0.012), bucillamine and phenformin increased dorsal pigmentation (P = 0.0013, and P = 0.0005), but no other photoprotective effect was observed across the repurposed groups. This study demonstrates that oral supplementation with bucillamine, carvedilol, metformin, or phenformin does not affect UVR-induced carcinogenesis in hairless mice. Graphical Abstract: (Figure presented.).

AB - Squamous cell carcinoma represents the second most common type of keratinocyte carcinoma with ultraviolet radiation (UVR) making up the primary risk factor. Oral photoprotection aims to reduce incidence rates through oral intake of photoprotective compounds. Recently, drug repurposing has gained traction as an interesting source of chemoprevention. Because of their reported photoprotective properties, we investigated the potential of bucillamine, carvedilol, metformin, and phenformin as photoprotective compounds following oral intake in UVR-exposed hairless mice. Tumour development was observed in all groups in response to UVR, with only the positive control (Nicotinamide) demonstrating a reduction in tumour incidence (23.8%). No change in tumour development was observed in the four repurposed drug groups compared to the UV control group, whereas nicotinamide significantly reduced carcinogenesis (P = 0.00012). Metformin treatment significantly reduced UVR-induced erythema (P = 0.012), bucillamine and phenformin increased dorsal pigmentation (P = 0.0013, and P = 0.0005), but no other photoprotective effect was observed across the repurposed groups. This study demonstrates that oral supplementation with bucillamine, carvedilol, metformin, or phenformin does not affect UVR-induced carcinogenesis in hairless mice. Graphical Abstract: (Figure presented.).

KW - Drug repurposing

KW - Hairless mice

KW - Photoprotection

KW - Skin cancer

KW - Ultraviolet radiation

U2 - 10.1007/s43630-024-00535-4

DO - 10.1007/s43630-024-00535-4

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 38337129

AN - SCOPUS:85184514676

VL - 23

SP - 517

EP - 526

JO - Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences

JF - Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences

SN - 1474-905X

ER -