Retinoids in oncology: experimental and clinical aspects

Retinoids are of particular interest in experimental and clinical oncology. They exert their antitumor activity through inhibition of cell proliferation, induction of cell differentiation, suppression of oncogene expression and inhibition of angiogenesis. In animal experiments, retinoids have preventive and therapeutic effects on premalignant and malignant lesions. Clinically, chemoprevention with isotretinoin and etretinate has been tested with some success. Therapeutic effects have also been observed with retinoid treatment of precancerous and cancerous conditions. Substantial therapeutic success has been achieved in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia with tretinoin and of squamous cell carcinomas of the skin and cervix with a combination of isotretinoin and interferon a.