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Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Analysis of Retinoic Acid-induced Neural Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells in Two and Three-dimensional Embryoid Bodies
09:04

Analysis of Retinoic Acid-induced Neural Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells in Two and Three-dimensional Embryoid Bodies

Published on: April 22, 2017

Retinoids as differentiating agents in oncology: a network of interactions with intracellular pathways as the basis

Enrico Garattini1, Maurizio Gianni, Mineko Terao

  • 1Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Centro Catullo e Daniela Borgomainerio, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milano, Italy. egarattini@marionegri.it

Current Pharmaceutical Design
|May 18, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Retinoids show promise in cancer treatment but face challenges like resistance and toxicity. Combining retinoids with other drugs could improve their effectiveness and safety in oncology.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Retinoids, including retinoic acid, are potent anti-neoplastic agents with therapeutic and chemopreventive potential.
  • Despite successes like treating acute promyelocytic leukemia, widespread retinoid use in cancer is limited by resistance and toxicity.
  • Understanding retinoid mechanisms is key to overcoming these limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and critically discuss current knowledge on retinoid mechanisms in cancer.
  • To provide a framework for designing effective retinoid combination therapies.
  • To enhance the therapeutic index of retinoids in oncological applications.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of biochemical and molecular mechanisms of retinoid activity.
  • Analysis of cellular actions: differentiation, growth inhibition, and apoptosis.
  • Exploration of nuclear receptor-dependent and -independent pathways.

Main Results:

  • Retinoids exert anti-cancer effects through cell differentiation, growth inhibition, and apoptosis.
  • Retinoid action involves nuclear retinoic acid receptor (RAR)-dependent and -independent pathways.
  • Intra- and extra-cellular pathways modulate retinoid activity, offering targets for combination therapy.

Conclusions:

  • Rational drug combinations can enhance retinoid efficacy and reduce toxicity.
  • Targeting modulating pathways presents opportunities for novel therapeutic strategies.
  • Further research into retinoid combinations can improve cancer treatment outcomes.

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