Topical treatment with diclofenac, calcipotriol (vitamin-D3 analog) and difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) does not prevent nonmelanoma skin cancer in mice.

Nonmelanoma skin cancer is a common cancer type with increasing incidence. The purpose of this study was to evaluate topical application of diclofenac, calcipotriol, and difluoromethylornithine as chemoprevention in a mouse model of ultraviolet light-induced skin tumors, since these agents have been reported to have tumor inhibiting properties. One hundred twenty eight mice were treated with UVB radiation followed by chemoprevention or placebo. There were no significant effects of the treatments with respect to presence of skin tumors, number of tumors, tumor size, or survival. The investigated drugs were ineffective as chemoprevention in the dose regimens used in this study.