LAUSR

Retinoids represent a class of chemical compounds derived from, or structurally and functionally related to vitamin A. Retinoids play crucial roles in regulating a range of crucial biological processes spanning embryonic development to adult life. These include regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, and cell death. Due to their promising characteristics, retinoids emerged as potent anti-cancer agents, and their effects were validated in in vitro and in vivo pre-clinical models of several solid and hematological malignancies. However, their clinical translation remained limited due to their poor water solubility, photosensitivity, short half-life, and toxicity. To overcome these limitations, the development of retinoid delivery formulations was extensively studied. In this review, we will provide a comprehensive summary of some preclinical and commercial synthetic retinoids in cancer and discuss their different delivery systems.