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Retinoids and cancer prevention.
1Biochemistry Research, Southern Research Institute, Birmingham, Alabama 35255.
Annual Review of Nutrition
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Retinoids show varied effectiveness in cancer prevention across species and cancer types. Careful selection of retinoids and administration routes is crucial for optimal chemopreventive and therapeutic outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Chemoprevention
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Retinoids, vitamin A derivatives, are investigated for their potential in cancer prevention and treatment.
- Evidence suggests retinoid efficacy can be species-specific and cancer-type dependent.
- Understanding these variations is key to optimizing retinoid-based therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the species-specific effects of various retinoids on different types of chemically induced and spontaneous cancers.
- To evaluate the chemopreventive and therapeutic potential of retinoids in various animal models and human conditions.
- To highlight the importance of retinoid selection and administration for efficacy.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on retinoid efficacy in cancer chemoprevention and therapy.
- Analysis of studies involving different retinoids (e.g., retinyl acetate, 4-HPR, 13-cis-RA, retinyl palmitate) across various species (mice, rats, hamsters) and cancer models.
- Examination of retinoid effects on mammary, bladder, esophageal, thymic lymphoma, pancreatic, skin, liver, and forestomach cancers, as well as human conditions like myelodysplastic syndromes and cervical dysplasia.
Main Results:
- Retinoids exhibit species-specific effects; some prevent mammary cancer in rats but not mice.
- Chemopreventive activity for bladder cancer is modest across species, with potential human therapeutic effects.
- Variable outcomes observed for esophageal, pancreatic, and liver cancers, with some retinoids showing promise while others are ineffective or even detrimental.
- 13-cis-retinoic acid (13-cis-RA) shows benefit in some leukemias and lymphomas, while 4-HPR may worsen certain conditions.
- Topical retinoids demonstrate efficacy in cervical dysplasia and hamster cervical cancer models.
Conclusions:
- Retinoid efficacy in cancer chemoprevention and therapy is highly dependent on the specific retinoid, cancer type, species, and route of administration.
- Further research is needed to elucidate mechanisms and optimize retinoid use for specific clinical applications.
- Careful selection of retinoids is critical for maximizing therapeutic benefits and minimizing potential adverse effects.