Fenretinide
Encyclopedia
Fenretinide (INN
) is a synthetic retinoid
deriverative. Retinoids are substances related to vitamin A. It has been investigated for potential use in the treatment of cancer
, as well as in the treatment of cystic fibrosis
, rheumatoid arthritis, acne, psoriasis, and has been found to also slow the production and accumulation of a toxin that leads to vision loss in Stargardt's patients.
In cancer studies, Fenretinide treatment may cause ceramide
(a wax-like substance) to build up in tumor cells and is associated with the accumulation of reactive oxygen species
(ROS), resulting in cell death through apoptosis and/or necrosis. Fenretinide accumulates preferentially in fatty tissue such as the breast, which may contribute to the effectiveness of fenretinide against breast cancer. Phase III clinical trial data has suggested that fenretinide reduces breast cancer relapse in pre-menopausal women . Common side effects associated with fenretinide treatment include skin dryness and night-blindness, which is reversible upon cessation of treatment. Specific types of cancer under investigation include or have included ovarian, prostate, cervical, lung, renal, bladder, breast, glioma, skin, head and neck carcinoma, Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, neuroblastoma, and Ewing's sarcoma.
Numerous references and links to current and past clinical trials and studies of Fenretinide can be found at the Journal of Clinical Oncology website at
http://jco.ascopubs.org/cgi/content/abstract/19/6/1664
International Nonproprietary Name
An International Nonproprietary Name is the official nonproprietary or generic name given to a pharmaceutical substance, as designated by the World Health Organization...
) is a synthetic retinoid
Retinoid
The retinoids are a class of chemical compounds that are related chemically to vitamin A. Retinoids are used in medicine, primarily due to the way they regulate epithelial cell growth....
deriverative. Retinoids are substances related to vitamin A. It has been investigated for potential use in the treatment of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
, as well as in the treatment of cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is a recessive genetic disease affecting most critically the lungs, and also the pancreas, liver, and intestine...
, rheumatoid arthritis, acne, psoriasis, and has been found to also slow the production and accumulation of a toxin that leads to vision loss in Stargardt's patients.
In cancer studies, Fenretinide treatment may cause ceramide
Ceramide
Ceramides are a family of lipid molecules. A ceramide is composed of sphingosine and a fatty acid. Ceramides are found in high concentrations within the cell membrane of cells. They are one of the component lipids that make up sphingomyelin, one of the major lipids in the lipid bilayer...
(a wax-like substance) to build up in tumor cells and is associated with the accumulation of reactive oxygen species
Reactive oxygen species
Reactive oxygen species are chemically reactive molecules containing oxygen. Examples include oxygen ions and peroxides. Reactive oxygen species are highly reactive due to the presence of unpaired valence shell electrons....
(ROS), resulting in cell death through apoptosis and/or necrosis. Fenretinide accumulates preferentially in fatty tissue such as the breast, which may contribute to the effectiveness of fenretinide against breast cancer. Phase III clinical trial data has suggested that fenretinide reduces breast cancer relapse in pre-menopausal women . Common side effects associated with fenretinide treatment include skin dryness and night-blindness, which is reversible upon cessation of treatment. Specific types of cancer under investigation include or have included ovarian, prostate, cervical, lung, renal, bladder, breast, glioma, skin, head and neck carcinoma, Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, neuroblastoma, and Ewing's sarcoma.
Numerous references and links to current and past clinical trials and studies of Fenretinide can be found at the Journal of Clinical Oncology website at
http://jco.ascopubs.org/cgi/content/abstract/19/6/1664