title: Metabolism and growth inhibition of four retinoids in head and neck squamous normal and malignant cells.
abstract: Isotretinoin (13-cis-retinoic acid, 13cRA) has proven to be active in chemoprevention of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Moreover, both all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) and 13cRA induce objective responses in oral premalignant lesions. After binding of retinoids to retinoic acid receptors (RARs and RXRs) dimers are formed that are able to regulate the expression of genes involved in growth and differentiation. We compared the metabolism and level of growth inhibition of 13cRA with that of ATRA, 9cRA and retinol in four HNSCC cell lines and normal oral keratinocyte cultures (OKC). These retinoid compounds are known to bind with different affinities to the retinoic acid receptors. We observed that all retinoids were similar with respect to their capacity to induce growth inhibition. One HNSCC line could be ranked as sensitive, one as moderately sensitive and the remaining two were totally insensitive; OKC were moderately sensitive. The rate at which the cells were able to catabolize the retinoid was similar for all compounds. Retinoid metabolism in HNSCC cells resulted in a profile of metabolites that was unique for each retinoid. These metabolic profiles were different in OKC. Our findings indicate that differences in retinoid receptor selectivity of these retinoids do not influence the level of growth inhibition and rate of metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Section Tumor Biology, Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Vrije Universiteit, PO Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Klaassen
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Brakenhoff
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Smeets
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Snow
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Braakhuis
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000502:physiology; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000502:physiology*; D012176:Retinoids / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D012176:Retinoids