title: Inhalation of aerosolized vitamin a: reversibility of metaplasia and dysplasia of human respiratory epithelia -- a prospective pilot study.
abstract: The objective of this preliminary uncontrolled study was twofold: First, to assess the feasibility of retinyl palmitate inhalation and second, to analyze the changes of metaplastic lesions of the respiratory epithelium (metaplasia or dysplasia) following retinyl palmitate inhalation. The response to a daily dose of 18.000 I.U. retinyl palmitate by inhalation over a period of 3 month was assessed in 11 subjects (9 smokers, 2 ex-smokers). Using white-light bronchoscopy combined with autofluorescence bronchoscopy, bronchial biopsies were taken before and after a 3 month-period. The biopsy samples were evaluated blind by a referee lung pathologist. The overall response rate (remission or partial remission) was 56% (95% CI 0.30   0.79; p<0.05). These data suggest that inhalation of retinyl esters could be a promising therapeutical approach for chemoprevention of lung cancer. Vitamin A; chemoprevention; lung cancer; squamous metaplasia; dysplasia; retinoids
authors.affiliation: Asklepios Center for Respiratory Medicine and Thoracic Surgery, Munich-Gauting, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kohlhäufl
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Häussinger
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stanzel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Markus
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tritschler
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mühlhöfer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morresi-Hauf
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Golly
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scheuch
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Jany
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Biesalski
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000336:Aerosols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001706:Biopsy; D001980:Bronchi / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D004224:Diterpenes; D005260:Female; D005453:Fluorescence; D006685:Hoarseness / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008679:Metaplasia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012074:Remission Induction; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D000084562:Retinyl Esters; D012907:Smoking; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D004224:Diterpenes; D000084562:Retinyl Esters; D014801:Vitamin A; C014794:retinol palmitate