[Clinical use of vitamin A and E in gynecology]

Dysplasia is an alteration of organ and tissues cellular composition. It means quantitative and qualitative variations (differentiation) of the cells. More recently many Authors have investigated about epithelial neoplasia (breast, cervix, lung, respiratory tract, bladder, colon) and dysplastic epithelial processes and about their medical treatment and prevention of potentially transformative lesions. The view that certain vitamins such as vitamin A (in the form of retinol or its precursor beta-carotene) and vitamin E may protect against the risk of cancer has recently attracted much scientific attention. The potential use of retinoids (and alpha tocopherol) for chemoprevention has been demonstrated by numerous recent experiences. In gynaecology there are no evidence of therapeutical investigations about endometrial and ovarian dysplastic lesions, and then about protective role for consequent neoplasia development. Regarding cervical cancer there are only epidemiological retrospective data about dietary intake of vitamin A. The clinical trial is insufficient, perhaps for technical difficulties of administration, but we hope to obtain satisfactory results in the future. Benign breast disease, instead, so present in woman's life (in particular in fertile phase) is the most common clinical syndrome encompassing several distinct histopathological varieties. BBD is associated with an increase in breast cancer risk, particularly related to the presence of epithelial hyperplasia. In our study (collaborative study; University of L'Aquila--University of Rome) we have treated a group of women (double-blind trial) affected by breast dysplasia, with vitamin A and E association to evaluate the effectiveness of retinoids and alpha-tocopherol in reducing or resolving clinical palpable breast findings (with pain, tension, nodularity and instrumental patterns).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)