title: Vitamin A, cancer treatment and prevention: the new role of cellular retinol binding proteins.
abstract: Retinol and vitamin A derivatives influence cell differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis and play an important physiologic role in a wide range of biological processes. Retinol is obtained from foods of animal origin. Retinol derivatives are fundamental for vision, while retinoic acid is essential for skin and bone growth. Intracellular retinoid bioavailability is regulated by the presence of specific cytoplasmic retinol and retinoic acid binding proteins (CRBPs and CRABPs). CRBP-1, the most diffuse CRBP isoform, is a small 15 KDa cytosolic protein widely expressed and evolutionarily conserved in many tissues. CRBP-1 acts as chaperone and regulates the uptake, subsequent esterification, and bioavailability of retinol. CRBP-1 plays a major role in wound healing and arterial tissue remodelling processes. In the last years, the role of CRBP-1-related retinoid signalling during cancer progression became object of several studies. CRBP-1 downregulation associates with a more malignant phenotype in breast, ovarian, and nasopharyngeal cancers. Reexpression of CRBP-1 increased retinol sensitivity and reduced viability of ovarian cancer cells in vitro. Further studies are needed to explore new therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring CRBP-1-mediated intracellular retinol trafficking and the meaning of CRBP-1 expression in cancer patients' screening for a more personalized and efficacy retinoid therapy.
authors: Anatomic Pathology, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Tor Vergata University, Via Montpellier, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors: Elena
authors: E
authors: Doldo
authors: Anatomic Pathology, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Tor Vergata University, Via Montpellier, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors: Gaetana
authors: G
authors: Costanza
authors: Anatomic Pathology, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Tor Vergata University, Via Montpellier, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors: Sara
authors: 0000-0002-9834-6215
authors: S
authors: Agostinelli
authors: Anatomic Pathology, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Tor Vergata University, Via Montpellier, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: Tarquini
authors: Anatomic Pathology, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Tor Vergata University, Via Montpellier, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors: Amedeo
authors: 0000-0002-3636-8865
authors: A
authors: Ferlosio
authors: Anatomic Pathology, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Tor Vergata University, Via Montpellier, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors: Gaetano
authors: G
authors: Arcuri
authors: Anatomic Pathology, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Tor Vergata University, Via Montpellier, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors: Daniela
authors: 0000-0002-0736-753X
authors: D
authors: Passeri
authors: Anatomic Pathology, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Tor Vergata University, Via Montpellier, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors: Maria Giovanna
authors: 0000-0002-8458-4108
authors: MG
authors: Scioli
authors: Anatomic Pathology, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Tor Vergata University, Via Montpellier, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors: Augusto
authors: A
authors: Orlandi
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003600:Cytosol / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D054840:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Cellular / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D054840:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Cellular; D014801:Vitamin A; D014212:Tretinoin