Effects of receptor class- and subtype-selective retinoids and an apoptosis-inducing retinoid on the adherent growth of the NIH:OVCAR-3 ovarian cancer cell line in culture

Comparison of the adherent growth inhibition of NIH:OVCAR-3 ovarian cancer cells by retinoid receptor class-selective and subtype-selective compounds with their receptor binding affinities and transcriptional activation activities indicated no correlation for RARα and RARγ although both receptors are present. Retinoids that activated RXRα inhibited cell growth in the range as all-trans-retinoic acid and 9-cis-retinoic acid. The most potent inhibitor was 6-[3-(1-adamantyl) -4-hydroxyphenyl]-2-naphthalenecarboxylic acid (AHPN), which has been found to inhibit breast and lung cancer and leukemia cell growth and induce cancer cell apoptosis through a pathway independent of the retinoid receptors.