Fenretinide (N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide; 4-HPR) is a synthetic analogue of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA; vitamin A) that shows promise both as a chemotherapeutic and chemopreventive agent in a variety of tumor types. Its anticancer actions are attributed to apoptosis induction.
Fenretinide is a synthetic derivative of ATRA that was synthesized by R.W. Johnson Pharmaceuticals, USA, in the late 1960s. Sporn and colleagues assessed its biological activity and discovered that fenretinide accumulated in the breast rather than the liver. In 1979, the first report of fenretinide acting as an anticancer agent was published where it inhibited chemically induced breast cancer in rats. Subsequently, numerous studies have investigated the use of fenretinide as both a chemotherapeutic and chemopreventive agent.
KeywordsOvarian Cancer Chemopreventive Agent Delay Tumor Growth Night Blindness Chemoprevention Trial
- Cazzaniga M, Varricchio C, Montefrancesco C, Feroce I, Guerrieri-Gonzaga A (2012) Fenretinide (4-HPR): a preventive chance for women at risk of genetic and familial risk? J Biomed Biotechnol. doi:10.1155/2012/172897Google Scholar