Inhibition of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced epidermal ornithine decarboxylase activity and tumor promotion by N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide (W-7) in mouse skin.

N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide (W-7) inhibited epidermal ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) induction caused either by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) or teleocidin in CD-1 mice. Inhibitory effect of W-7 on TPA-caused ODC induction was also observed in 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-initiated skin and even after repetitive TPA treatment. TPA-induced skin tumor promotion was also suppressed by W-7. Meanwhile, W-7 showed only slight inhibitory effects on calcium-activated, phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C) activity of mouse epidermis stimulated either by Ca2+ or TPA in the presence of phosphatidylserine. Thus, it is unlikely that the anti-ODC-inducing and anti-tumor-promoting actions of W-7 are due to its inhibitory effect on protein kinase C. It may be possible that a calmodulin-mediating process is involved in the mechanism of epidermal ODC induction and tumor promotion caused by tumor promoters such as TPA and teleocidin.