title: Phase II trial of oral beta-all trans-retinoic acid in hepatocellular carcinoma (SWOG 9157).
abstract: Twenty-nine chemotherapy-naive patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma were treated with oral beta-all trans-retinoic acid (retinoic acid, TRA 50 mg/m2 t.i.d.) on a 3-week on/one week off schedule until progression or grade 3 or 4 toxicity. Eligibility requirements allowed abnormal liver function tests as long as the creatinine and bilirubin levels were normal. No responses were seen and the median survival was four months. Grade 3 side effects occurred in II patients and grade 4 in four and included a wide range of toxicities. The results indicate that oral TRA is ineffective against primary hepatocellular carcinoma and suggest that dose-modification of this retinoid may be required in patients with significant malignant hepatic involvement.
authors.affiliation: Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California (Irvine), Orange, USA.
authors.forename: F L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Meyskens
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Gandara
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: MacDonald
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015996:Survival Rate; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014212:Tretinoin