Factors affecting plasma retinol decline during long-term administration of the synthetic retinoid fenretinide in breast cancer patients

Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 1994 Sep;3(6):507-10.

Abstract

Administration of the synthetic retinoid Fenretinide lowers circulating retinol and may thus affect night vision. We have recently shown that plasma retinol levels below 100 ng/ml are associated with moderate alterations of the dark adaptometry test. To identify which patients are more likely to experience a decrease of plasma retinol under this threshold, we measured plasma levels of retinol, Fenretinide, and its metabolite 4-MPR in a cohort of 28 women receiving Fenretinide at the daily dose of 200 mg and studied their relationship with clinical characteristics such as age, menstrual status, body mass index, and time on treatment. Our results show that patients aged over 55 years with a higher percentage of adipose tissue had higher plasma concentrations of 4-MPR, which turned out to be the major determinant of the retinol decrease. This subgroup may thus deserve careful ophthalmological surveillance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue / anatomy & histology
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Body Mass Index
  • Breast Neoplasms / blood
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Dark Adaptation / drug effects
  • Female
  • Fenretinide / administration & dosage
  • Fenretinide / blood
  • Fenretinide / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Population Surveillance
  • Postmenopause
  • Premenopause
  • Time Factors
  • Tretinoin / analogs & derivatives
  • Tretinoin / blood
  • Vision, Ocular / drug effects
  • Vitamin A / blood*

Substances

  • Vitamin A
  • Fenretinide
  • Tretinoin
  • N-(4-methoxyphenyl)retinamide