维生素甲类化合物(retinoids,简称维甲类)作为预防和治疗肿瘤的药物日益受到重视。实验表明维甲类能阻断癌遗传表型的表达,可抑制许多动物和人的恶性细胞类型的生长,且能诱导细胞分化。其作用机理虽未完全明瞭,但新近认为蛋白激酶C级联系 Vitamin A compounds (retinoids, referred to as retinoids) have received increasing attention as drugs for the prevention and treatment of tumors. Experiments have shown that retinoids can block the expression of cancerous phenotypes, inhibit the growth of malignant cells in many animals and humans, and induce cell differentiation. Although its mechanism of action is not completely understood, protein kinase C-class links have recently been considered.