[The actions of TPA-type as well as non-TPA type tumor promoters and their mechanism(s) in tumor promotion].

Ten new tumor promoters which are structurally different from TPA but of similar biological activity were found. Based on their binding to the phorbol ester receptors of cell membranes, these new tumor promoters were classified as TPA-type tumor promoters, teleocidin and aplysiatoxin, which like TPA, activated protein kinase C in vitro, whereas two non-TPA-type tumor promoters, palytoxin and thapsigargin did not induce ODC activity in mouse skin, adhesion of HL-60 cells or activation of protein kinase C, but did show tumor-promoting activity in a two-stage carcinogenesis experiment. Although these two types of tumor promoter exert their tumor-promoting activities through different pathways, production of prostaglandin E2 by rat macrophages was induced by both the TPA-type and non-TPA-type promoters. Therefore, stimulation of arachidonic acid metabolism is suggested to be one of the important biological activities for tumor promotion.