13-Cis Retinoic Acid With Or Without Alpha Tocopherol May Protect Against Lung Cancer Precursor TOKYO, JAPAN -- September 13, 2000 -- Study findings suggest that 13-cis retinoic acid (CRA) with or without alpha tocopherol may halt dysplasia in patients at high risk for lung cancer. Researchers reported the findings at the Ninth World Conference on Lung Cancer, in Tokyo, Japan. Karen Kelly, MD, and colleagues at the University of Colorado Cancer Center, in Denver, enrolled patients who were believed to be at high risk for lung cancer. Patients were randomized to treatment with 13-cis retinoic acid (50 mg/d, po) with or without alpha tocopherol (800 mg/d, po) for one year or to no treatment. Alpha tocopherol was added to 13-cis retinoic acid to determine whether it reduced 13-cis retinoic acid’s toxicity. All participants in the trial had moderate atypia on their sputum, at least 30 pack years of smoking, a forced expiratory volume at one second (FEV1) of less than or equal to 75 percent or stage III non-small cell lung cancer that had been cured. Patients underwent fluorescent bronchoscopy before and after therapy, and all suspicious lesions were analyzed for histology and biologic markers. Thus far, 38 patients have enrolled in the trial. Results are available in 18 patients who had a follow-up fluorescent bronchoscopy. Progressive dysplasia was observed in 18 (58 percent) of 31 lesions and in five (83 percent) of six patients in the observation arm versus eleven (36 percent) of 36 lesions and five (42 percent) of 12 patients receiving treatment with 13-cis retinoic acid with or without tocopherol. The combination of 13-cis retinoic acid and alpha tocopherol was minimally toxic. Dr. Kelly said the results suggest that 13-cis retinoic acid may alter bronchial epithelium in high-risk lung cancer patients. She emphasized, however, that patients are still being recruited for the trial and further analysis is required to confirm these early results. Thanks to Doctors' Guide By Jill Stein Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.