Alitretinoin: a comprehensive review.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Alitretinoin (9-cis-retinoic acid) is a unique panagonist retinoid, capable of binding to all six known retinoid receptors (RAR-alpha, -beta, -gamma, and RXR-alpha, -beta, -gamma). Studies are being carried out to determine how best to utilize this characteristic in treatments for conditions such as chronic hand dermatitis.

OBJECTIVE:

To review the literature on alitretinoin.

METHODS:

The scope of the review encompasses ways that alitretinoin is currently and may potentially be utilized.

RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS:

Orally administered alitretinoin is a safe and effective treatment for chronic hand dermatitis. Topical treatment with alitretinoin can be expanded into other areas such as photoaged skin and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Despite these benefits, oral alitretinoin will face a difficult path attaining approval for use in the US.

• Authors: Caleb Cheng, Jason Michaels, Noah Scheinfeld
• Journal: Expert opinion on investigational drugs (Expert Opin Investig Drugs) Vol. 17 Issue 3 Pg. 437-43 (Mar 2008) ISSN: 1744-7658 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 18321241 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Receptors, Retinoic Acid
• Alitretinoin
• Tretinoin

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Alitretinoin
• Antineoplastic Agents (administration & dosage, adverse effects, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Hand Dermatoses (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Humans
• Receptors, Retinoic Acid (metabolism)
• Sarcoma, Kaposi (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Tretinoin (administration & dosage, adverse effects, pharmacology, therapeutic use)