This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Han, J.-Y. Articles by Lee, H.-Y. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Han, J.-Y. Articles by Lee, H.-Y.

9-cis-Retinoic Acid Treatment Increases Serum Concentrations of -Tocopherol in Former Smokers

Departments of ¹ Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology and ² Biostatistics and Applied Mathematics, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas

Requests for reprints: Ho-Young Lee, Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, Unit 432, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030. Phone: 713-792-3782; Fax: 713-796-8655; E-mail: hlee{at}mdanderson.org.

Purpose: Low serum concentrations of antioxidants may be associated with an increased risk of cancer. Based on the accumulated evidence, we hypothesized that retinoids would elevate serum -tocopherol. This study was designed to determine whether 9-cis-retinoic acid (9-cis-RA), the most common chemopreventive agent, could alter serum -tocopherol in former smokers. Because hyperlipidemia is a known side effect of retinoids, we also evaluated the association between serum -tocopherol and lipids in the same population.

Experimental Design: Subjects who had stopped smoking at least 12 months before the study were randomly assigned to receive oral 9-cis-RA or placebo daily for 3 months. Clinical information and blood samples were obtained monthly; serum -tocopherol concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography and lipid levels by enzymatic assays before treatment and every month during the treatment.

Results: Of the 149 subjects in the study, 113 completed 3 months of treatment and provided samples for evaluation of serum -tocopherol. Serum -tocopherol levels in the 9-cis-RA group (n = 52) were higher after treatment (r = 0.445, P < 0.01) than before. The incidences of grade 2 hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia were higher in the 9-cis-RA group than in the placebo group (P = 0.0005 and P = 0.01, respectively), but there were no serious complications related to hyperlipidemia.

Conclusions: Treatment of former smokers with 9-cis-RA significantly increased their serum -tocopherol levels, and this could be a benefit. In addition, serum -tocopherol could serve as a biomarker for 9-cis-RA treatment.

Key Words: Antioxidant • Chemoprevention • Lung cancer • Retinoid