Review

Nature Reviews Cancer 7, 357-369 (May 2007) | doi:10.1038/nrc2129

Triterpenoids and rexinoids as multifunctional agents for the prevention and treatment of cancer

Karen T. Liby1, Mark M. Yore1 & Michael B. Sporn1  About the authors

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Synthetic oleanane triterpenoids and rexinoids are two new classes of multifunctional drugs. They are neither conventional cytotoxic agents, nor are they monofunctional drugs that uniquely target single steps in signal transduction pathways. Synthetic oleanane triterpenoids have profound effects on inflammation and the redox state of cells and tissues, as well as being potent anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic agents. Rexinoids are ligands for the nuclear receptor transcription factors known as retinoid X receptors. Both classes of agents can prevent and treat cancer in experimental animals. These drugs have unique molecular and cellular mechanisms of action and might prove to be synergistic with standard anti-cancer treatments.

Author affiliations

  1. Dartmouth Medical School, Department of Pharmacology, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755, USA.

Correspondence to: Michael B. Sporn1 Email: michael.sporn@dartmouth.edu

Published online 19 April 2007

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