Chemoprevention of breast cancer with fenretinide

Citation
R. Torrisi et al., Chemoprevention of breast cancer with fenretinide, DRUGS, 61(7), 2001, pp. 909-918
Citations number
63
Categorie Soggetti
Pharmacology,"Pharmacology & Toxicology
Journal title
DRUGS
ISSN journal
00126667 → ACNP
Volume
61
Issue
7
Year of publication
2001
Pages
909 - 918
Database
ISI
SICI code
0012-6667(2001)61:7<909:COBCWF>2.0.ZU;2-B
Abstract
Chemoprevention of cancer represents a challenge for oncology during this n ew millennium. Substantial advances have been accomplished in the last deca de, especially for primary and secondary prevention of breast cancer. In ad dition to tamoxifen, raloxifene and other selective estrogen receptor modul ators, retinoids are among the most promising agents, given their ability t o inhibit mammary carcinogenesis in preclinical models. Fenretinide, the synthetic amide of retinoic acid, inhibits cell growth mos tly through the induction of apoptosis with mechanisms which may partly inv olve the retinoid receptors. Because it has a favourable toxicological prof ile, fenretinide has been extensively investigated in clinical trials. A la rge randomised phase III trial for secondary breast cancer prevention has b een recently carried out in Italy. Results showed a reduction of second bre ast malignancies in premenopausal women. In addition, a significant decreas e of circulating insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, a known risk factor fo r premenopausal breast cancer, was observed after 1 year of fenretinide adm inistration in premenopausal women with breast cancer. Ongoing studies on the validation of the circulating IGF-1 as a surrogate e ndpoint biomarker of fenretinide activity and on the effectiveness of the c ombination with low dose tamoxifen may provide further insight into the fut ure clinical application of fenretinide.