Formaldehyde and skin carcinogenesis

Meeting Report: Summary of IARC Monographs on Formaldehyde, 2-Butoxyethanol, and 1- tert -Butoxy-2-Propanol

“…Four studies of formaldehyde administered to rats in drinking water gave varying results: One showed an increased incidence of forestomach papillomas in male rats (Takahashi et al 1986); a second showed an increased incidence of gastrointestinal leiomyosarcomas in female rats and in both sexes combined (Soffritti et al 1989); a third showed increased incidences of total malignant tumors, lymphomas and leukemias, and testicular interstitial-cell adenomas in male rats (Soffritti et al 2002); whereas a fourth did not show a carcinogenic effect (Til et al 1989). Formaldehyde also showed co-carcinogenic effects by inhalation, ingestion, and dermal exposure (Dalbey 1982; Iverson 1986; Takahashi et al 1986). …”

Occupational mycosis fungoides – a case series

“…A long‐term follow‐up study published in 25,000 workers exposed to formaldehyde confirmed these findings . Animal studies suggest a link between skin carcinogenesis and formaldehyde exposure . It has been suggested that exposure to formaldehyde may lead to lymphoma of the skin through chronic allergic stimulation leading to uncontrolled proliferation of lymphatic cells up to the appearance of transformed clones and the development of lymphoma…”

Chemopreventive effect of Mentha piperita on dimethylbenz[a]anthracene and formaldehyde‐induced tongue carcinogenesis in mice (histological and immunohistochemical study)

“…The two‐stage chemical carcinogenesis protocol have been used by Iversen to induce skin cancer through an initiating application of DMBA which induces an irreversible and specific mutation in mouse skin followed by the application of formaldehyde. The author found that the time of appearance of the first tumor and the mean latency time were significantly, or very significantly, reduced.…”

“…DMBA was commonly used as an initiator . The most active promoter known is phorbol esters such as phorbol ester TPA (otherwise known as phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate [PMA]) . However, other promoters have been used in several studies such as croton oil , formaldehyde , and three okadaic acid class tumor promoters (okadaic acid, dinophysistoxin‐1, and calyculin A) .…”

“…This induction of carcinogenesis enables the local, systemic, and environmental factors that influence tumor susceptibility, growth, and progression to be studied in the laboratory. It also helps in the identification of important molecular and immunological pathways involved in malignancy .…”