A Review of the Chemopreventive and Chemotherapeutic Effects of Topical and Oral Retinoids for both Cutaneous and Internal Neoplasms

Retinoids, a group of compounds encompassing Vitamin A and its analogs, have been shown to inhibit tumor growth in laboratory studies. Based on these findings, a number of clinical trials have been conducted to investigate the chemoprotective and chemotherapeutic effects of retinoids. This paper reviews the current database regarding the use of oral and topical retinoids in the prevention and treatment of cutaneous and internal malignancies. Clinical studies have shown that retinoids have beneficial effects in the prevention and treatment of certain neoplasms. In view of the heightened concern of malignancy associated with the use of biologic agents in the treatment of psoriasis, retinoids may be an attractive option for combination therapy with the biologic agents. Future clinical investigations are needed to precisely define how this combination will fit into the treatment algorithm for moderate-to-severe psoriasis.