Aplysiatoxin is a new class of potent tumor promoter and debromoaplysiatoxin may be a weak promoter. Aplysiatoxin and debromoaplysiatoxin showed the same potency on irritation of mouse ear and induction of ornithine decarboxylase activity on mouse skin, but debromoaplysiatoxin was much weaker than aplysiatoxin in induction of adhesion of HL-60 cells.
The third class of new tumor promoters, polyacetates (debromoaplysiatoxin and aplysiatoxin), can differentiate biological actions relevant to tumor promoters.
