Initially, it was postulated that flavones and antioxidants inhibit skin carcinogenesis by interfering with the metabolism of carcinogens into the ultimate carcinogen form [
33,
34]. Several studies have found that overexpression as well as deficiencies in MnSOD expression can have significant effects on tumor formation using this two-stage skin carcinogenesis model. Skin carcinogenesis is known to occur in a two-stage process. The two-stage skin carcinogenesis model is a well-established model utilized to study the multiple stages of skin carcinogenesis: tumor initiation, promotion, and metastasis. A single application of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, 7, 12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene, is applied at a subthreshold dose. Chemical mutagens, such as DMBA are known to induce carcinogen-specific mutations in the H-
ras gene at codon 61 [
35,
36]. Mutations in the H-
ras gene confer a selective advantage within H-
ras initiated cells, which can develop into benign tumors after treatment with tumor-promoting agents such as TPA [
37]. Following this subcarcinogenic dose, multiple applications of TPA are applied to induce epigenetic changes. The tumor promotion stage is essentially reversible; however, later in the tumorigenesis process, this stage becomes irreversible. Overall, tumor promotion inhibitors have common mechanisms of action: (1) altered metabolism of the carcinogen, (2) scavenging abilities of active molecular species of carcinogens, and lastly (3) competitive inhibition [
38]. Several studies have shown the inverse relationship of ROS and MnSOD expression in the pathogenesis of hyperproliferative and inflammatory diseases. It is known that DMBA/TPA treatment induces cell proliferation and apoptosis; both believed to be modulated by oxidative stress propagation [
39]. For example, it was found that overexpression of MnSOD, in the two-stage skin carcinogenesis mouse model, reduced the number and incidence of papillomas providing direct evidence of free radical involvement in skin carcinogenesis [
40]. Zhao et al. showed that apoptosis preceded cell proliferation [
39]. It was found that apoptosis peaked at the 6-hour time point, prior to the peak in cell proliferation at 24

h [
39]. Providing a therapeutic window for antioxidant intervention, MnTE-2-PyP
5+, a small molecule catalytic antioxidant (SOD mimetic), was applied following the peak in apoptosis. It was found that papilloma formation decreased 6-fold compared to their control counterparts, without effecting apoptosis. These results suggest that antioxidant therapy is an effective mode of tumor suppression and can potential be used in conjunction with traditional chemotherapeutics without interfering with drug-induced cell death. Consistent with that, it was found that in the presence of MnTE-2-Pyp
5+, the level of oxidative injury was significantly reduced. Therefore, these results suggest the oxidative stress-mediated tumor promotion of TPA, as well as, the antioxidant capabilities of MnSOD in tumor suppression. Furthermore, in a study using MnSOD transgenic mice, it was found that only 50% of transgenic mice developed papillomas, compared to 78% of their nontransgenic counterparts [
40]. These results, again, suggest the antioxidant capabilities of MnSOD as a tumor suppressor.
Moreover, superoxide anions, one of the major constituents of ROS, act as signaling molecules that can regulate oncoproteins and downstream gene expression. As a key cellular redox regulator, MnSOD has been shown to affect the binding activities of transcription factors to transcriptional control elements, therefore modulating gene expression. The mechanism behind MnSOD mediated tumor suppression has been shown to involve suppression of activator protein-1 (AP-1) activity. AP-1 is a key mediator of oncogenic signaling [
37]. There are many posttranslational modifications that can regulate AP-1 activity such as modulation of the phosphorylation states of the Jun or Fos protein [
41] and redox regulation of the Jun protein. High levels of phosphorylated c-Jun, Fra-1, Fra-2, and ATF-2 proteins have been shown to positively correlate with malignant phenotypes in the multistage mouse skin carcinogenesis model [
37]. In addition, the increased expression and posttranslational modifications of these oncoproteins account for a high percentage of the increased AP-1 activity. In malignant cell lines, the DNA binding and transactivation properties of AP-1 have been found to be elevated, peaking in fully metastatic cell lines [
37]. The transcription factor, AP-1, is known to play a role in cellular differentiation, proliferation, and transformation. The AP-1 complex is known to consist of the homo- or heterodimer of the Fos, Jun, and Fra family members. Many of the subunits of AP-1 are redox sensitive and can be regulated by posttranslational modifications induced by TPA-mediated ROS signaling. It is known that AP-1 activation can be detected as soon as 6 hours post-TPA treatment. Zhao et al. showed that by overexpressing MnSOD in human MnSOD transgenic mice, the initial activation of AP-1 was delayed and resulted in a significant reduction in papilloma formation [
40]. When both nontransgenic and MnSOD transgenic mice were treated with DMBA/TPA, it was shown that JunD was the only family member whose expression was increased within 24

h of TPA treatment [
40]. Another kinase found to be involved in AP-1 activity is c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). JNK activity has been shown to increase more than threefold in malignant cell lines [
37]. It was found that the increased phosphorylated form of JNK seen at 6

h post-TPA treatment in nontransgenic mice was delayed and reduced in MnSOD transgenic mice 24

h post TPA treatment. These results therefore suggest that MnSOD overexpression can affect TPA-induced AP-1 activation by modulating JNK kinase activity. Nevertheless, we have shown that the induction of endogenous antioxidant enzymes, particularly MnSOD, is efficient in reducing tumor incidence, as well as, mediators of proliferation [
40].