Patent ID: 6284224
Filing Date: 2001-09-04
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method of treating a group of mammals so as to reduce the percentage of mammals which exhibit tumor formation in epidermal tissue, wherein said mammals have been topically exposed to a chemical substance selected from the group consisting of tumor promoters and tumor initiators, said method comprising the steps of:obtaining a group of mammals having epidermal tissue which has been topically exposed to a defined amount of a chemical substance selected from the group consisting of tumor promoters and tumor initiators; andtreating the epidermal tissue topically with an acetone solution containing a defined amount of a synthetic colorant, said defined amount of said synthetic colorant being effective to reduce a percentage of mammals in said group of mammals which exhibit tumor formation in said epidermal tissue, wherein said synthetic colorant is a compound selected from the group consisting of tartrazine and erythrosine B;wherein said defined amount of said chemical substance is sufficient to increase the incidence of epidermal tumor formation in a group of animals having epidermal tissue which has been topically exposed to the chemical substance, but which has not been topically treated with the synthetic colorant.