tretinoin and Pharyngeal-Neoplasms

Epidermoid carcinomas of the oral cavity and oropharynx from six patients were examined for the presence and amount of cellular retinol (CRBP) and cellular retinoic acid-binding (CRABP) proteins. In all cases adjacent, grossly normal tissue was similarly examined. For each example CRBP levels were significantly higher in tumor tissue compared to adjacent tissue. In four cases CRABP was significantly higher. This is of interest because retinol, retinoic acid and their analogs have been shown to inhibit the development of various epithelial tumors, and this inhibition is possibly mediated by these binding proteins.

Topics: Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Carrier Proteins; Centrifugation, Density Gradient; Female; Humans; Male; Mouth Neoplasms; Oropharynx; Pharyngeal Neoplasms; Receptors, Retinoic Acid; Retinol-Binding Proteins; Retinol-Binding Proteins, Cellular; Tretinoin; Vitamin A

Animal studies have shown. a) an association between vitamin A and cancers of epithelial origin, and b) that vitamin A and its analogues delay tumour appearance, retard tumour growth and regress tumours induced by carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Human epidemiological and biochemical studies suggest that cancers of epithelial origin may be associated with vitamin A deficiency. Vitamin A and its analogues may have a prophylactic and a therapeutic role in cancers of epithelial origin.

Topics: Animals; Bronchial Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Mouth Neoplasms; Neoplasms, Experimental; Pharyngeal Neoplasms; Tretinoin; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency