Retinoids as potential chemopreventive agents in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Abstract

Although newer combined modality approaches, including neoadjuvant cytotoxic chemotherapy, for patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCCA) of the head and neck have produced high initial complete response rates, they have not improved overall survival for patients with advanced disease.

Vitamin A plays an essential role in the normal differentiation of epithelial tissues.

Retinoids, analogs of vitamin A, are active in certain premalignant and malignant disorders including SCCA.

Six studies, including one recently reported placebo-controlled randomized trial, have demonstrated the efficacy of retinoids in oral leukoplakia.

Two studies (totalling 48 patients) have shown significant retinoid activity (67% overall complete response rate) in patients with aggressive, recurrent laryngeal papillomatosis.

Two trials (including a randomized phase II trial) of isotretinoin in advanced, refractory SCCA of the head and neck have produced an objective response rate of 16%, which is comparable to that reported in single-agent studies with cytotoxic drugs.

There is a need for further study of retinoids in head and neck cancer.

The high initial response rates with current therapy and the high subsequent risks of local recurrence and of developing second primary tumors in head and neck cancer patients offer an excellent opportunity to investigate the use of retinoids as adjuvant therapy for this malignancy.

 

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See also:

- All-Trans-Retinoic Acid (ATRA - analogues and/or derivatives);

- The Di Bella Method (A Fixed Part - All-Trans Retinoic Acid, Analogues and/or Derivatives);

- Solution of retinoids in vitamin E in the Di Bella Method biological multitherapy;

- The Di Bella Method (A Fixed Part - Alpha tocopheryl acetate/Vitamin E);

- The Di Bella Method DBM improved survival objective response and performance status in a retrospective observational clinical study on 23 tumours of the head and neck;

- Complete objective response, stable for 5 years, with the Di Bella Method, of multiple-metastatic carcinoma of the breast;

- Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of the first-line treatment with somatostatin combined with melatonin, retinoids, vitamin D3, and low doses of cyclophosphamide in 20 cases of breast cancer: a preliminary report;

- The Di Bella Method (DBM) improved survival, objective response and performance status in a retrospective observational clinical study on 122 cases of breast cancer;

- Complete objective response to biological therapy of plurifocal breast carcinoma.