In the past decade, much experimental and clinical research has been done in order to prevent cancer. Epidemiologic and clinical data revealed that vitamin A and its derivatives could restore cellular regulation and differentiation in cancer. Retinoids are a group of natural and synthetic vitamin A analogues that possess the unique ability to modulate the growth and differentiation of normal, premalignant, and malignant epithelial and mesenchymal cells in-vitro and in-vivo. Naturally occuring retinoids act as physiologic regulators of embryonal development and maintain the proper differentiation of many epithelial tissues in the adult. Retinoids also act pharmacologically to restore regulation of differentiation and growth in certain premalignant and malignant cells in vitro and in-vivo. Consequently, these compounds are being evaluated clinically for cancer prevention and therapy. We review here the chemopreventive properties of retinoids and their impact on cancer prevention and therapy.

Keywords: Carcinogenesis, cancer, chemoprevention, vitamin a, retinoic acid