title: How retinoids regulate breast cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis.
abstract: Breast cancer still remains a major problem in its incidence, morbidity and mortality; therefore, more effective strategies for its prevention are urgently needed. Retinoids, natural and synthetic derivatives of vitamin A, possess antiproliferative and proapoptotic properties, making them a promising class of chemopreventive agents against breast cancer. The efficacy of all-trans retinoic acid, 9-cis-retinoic acid, LGD1069 (Targretin, bexarotene), and N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide (fenretinide) as breast cancer chemopreventive agents is being studied. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of action of these agents should lead to improvements in their clinical application. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms by which retinoids exert their antiproliferative and apoptotic effects in breast cancer cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioimmunotherapy, Section of Immunobiology and Drug Carriers, The University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: A-M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Simeone
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tari
mesh_terms: D000077556:Alitretinoin; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D000077610:Bexarotene; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D017313:Fenretinide / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D012176:Retinoids / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D013764:Tetrahydronaphthalenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D012176:Retinoids; D013764:Tetrahydronaphthalenes; D017313:Fenretinide; D000077556:Alitretinoin; D014212:Tretinoin; D000077610:Bexarotene