Vitamin A and Retinoids: An Update of Biological Aspects and Clinical Applications, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 2000
Molecular and Cell Biology Updates Series

Rapid progress has been made in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of cell growth and oncogenesis during the past decade. Special attention has been given to the presentation of the frequently neglected close correlation between changes in signal transduction and metabolic pathways during oncogenesis. This book advances the knowledge of mechanisms regulating metabolism and functioning of vitamin A and offers the most recent results of research on the clinical efficiency of retinoids in skin disorders and cancer. The book presents recent findings on the regulation of cell growth in normal and neoplastic tissues by growth factors including hormones, and by the activation and inactivation of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, respectively. It also offers a survey of the molecular and cell biochemistry of retinoids. Basic researchers in biochemistry, pharmacology and cell biology as well as clinicians will find this book very informative and up-to-date. This book advances the knowledge of mechanisms regulating metabolism and functioning of vitamin A and offers the most recent results of research on clinical efficiency of retinoids in skin disorders and cancer. Basic researchers in biochemistry, pharmacology, cell biology, and clinicians will find this book very informative and up-to-date. The chapters, organized in six sections, are contributed by leading scientists who have been working in the retinoid field for decades. Their experience and competence is aknowledged worldwide.

Factors affecting blood levels of vitamin A.- Enzymology and biogenesis of retinoic acid.- Requirements and safety of vitamin A in humans.- Current views on carotenoids: biology, epidemiology and trials.- The role of vitamin A in visual transduction.- The role and evolutionary development of retinoic-acid signalling in the eye.- Vitamin A, retinoids and immune responses.- Vitamin A and infectious diseases.- Retinoid metabolism in the embryo.- Physiologically-based pharmacokinetic scaling in retinoid developmental toxicity.- Retinoic acid receptors in normal and neoplastic haematopoietic cells.- Modulation of nuclear vitamin D signalling by retinoids.- Pharmacology and molecular mechanisms of retinoid action in skin.- Synthetic retinoids and their usefulness in biology and medicine.- Proposed role of gap junctional communication in retinoid-induced suppression of proliferation and inhibition of neoplastic transformation.- Effects of all-trans retinoic acid and 13-cis retinoic acid on breast cancer cell lines.- Retinoids and interferons: combination studies in human cancer.- Treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia with all-trans retinoic acid.- Bioactivities of N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) retinamide.- Therapeutic uses of retinoids in skin diseases.- Retinoid treatment of photoaged skin.- Therapeutic uses of retinoic acid receptor antagonists and inverse agonists.