Retinoic acid plays important roles in development, growth and differentiation. This role has long been under investigation, with the molecular mechanisms of how retinoic acid induces cell apoptosis and growth inhibition remaining unknown. Cheng and colleagues sought to identify specific retinoic acid receptor-alpha target genes in endometrial Ishikawa cells using DNA microarray analyses. They selected four highly regulated genes which they subsequently validated as being regulated by the retinoic acid agonist AM580. These genes could well be involved in regulation of cell growth and differentiation. Further, both retinoic acid and AM580 were shown to inhibit endometrial cancer cell proliferation. This is the first time that a study has shown time-dependent changes in gene expression of a human endometrial cancer cell line treated with retinoic acid. Retinoic acid thus has potential as a therapeutic agent for treatment of human endometrial cancer. Cheng et al. (2011) Journal of Molecular Endocrinology 46 139–153.

Read the full article at: DOI:10.1530/JME-10-0064.