In several T-ALL cell lines, fenretinide (4-HPR) exhibits both short-term and long-term anticancer action. In CCRF-CEM leukemia cells, fenretinide suppresses DES activity in a dose- and time-dependent manner, increasing endogenous cellular dhCer levels in the process. In CCRF-CEM and Jurkat cells, fenretinide (3 μM) causes an accumulation of dhCer [1]. Insulin signaling is protected by fenretinide's inhibition of ceramide. Insulin-stimulated glucose absorption is prevented from decreasing by lipids when fenretinide is present [2]. At concentrations above 1 microM, fenretinide decreases OVCAR-5 cell survival and proliferation; at 10 microM, it suppresses growth by 70–90%. After three days of preincubation, fenretinide (1 microM) dramatically reduced OVCAR-5 invasion. After being exposed to 1 µM 4-HPR, endothelial cells did not form tubes; instead, they produced tiny cell aggregates [4].

In male C57Bl/6 mice fed a high-fat diet, fenretinide (4-HPR) (10 mg/kg, ip) selectively prevents the build-up of ceramides. Tests for insulin and glucose tolerance show that fenretinide treatment increases insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance [2]. The addition of 25 mg/kg ketoconazole to fenretinide raised the plasma levels of 4-HPR in NOD/SCID mice [3].

Metabolism / Metabolites
Fenretinide has known human metabolites that include (2S,3S,4S,5R)-6-[4-[[(2E,4E,6E,8E)-3,7-dimethyl-9-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohexen-1-yl)nona-2,4,6,8-tetraenoyl]amino]phenoxy]-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxane-2-carboxylic acid.

[1]. Dihydroceramide accumulation and reactive oxygen species are distinct and nonessential events in 4-HPR-mediated leukemia cell death. Biochemistry and Cell Biology (2012), 90(2), 209-223.

[2]. Fenretinide Prevents Lipid-induced Insulin Resistance by Blocking Ceramide Biosynthesis. Journal of Biological Chemistry (2012), 287(21), 17426-17437.

[3]. Fenretinide metabolism in humans and mice: utilizing pharmacological modulation of its metabolic pathway to increase systemic exposure. Br J Pharmacol. 2011 Jul;163(6):1263-75.

[4]. Action of fenretinide (4-HPR) on ovarian cancer and endothelial cells. Anticancer Res. 2005 Jan-Feb;25(1A):249-53.

4-hydroxyphenyl retinamide is a retinoid obtained by formal condensation of the carboxy group of all-trans retinoic acid and the anilino group of 4-hydroxyaniline. Synthetic retinoid agonist. Antiproliferative, antioxidant and anticancer agent with a long half-life in vivo. Apoptotic effects appear to be mediated by a mechanism distinct from that of 'classical' retinoids. It has a role as an antineoplastic agent and an antioxidant. It is a retinoid and a monocarboxylic acid amide. It is functionally related to an all-trans-retinoic acid.
A synthetic retinoid that is used orally as a chemopreventive against prostate cancer and in women at risk of developing contralateral breast cancer. It is also effective as an antineoplastic agent.
Fenretinide is an orally-active synthetic phenylretinamide analogue of retinol (vitamin A) with potential antineoplastic and chemopreventive activities. Fenretinide binds to and activates retinoic acid receptors (RARs), thereby inducing cell differentiation and apoptosis in some tumor cell types. This agent also inhibits tumor growth by modulating angiogenesis-associated growth factors and their receptors and exhibits retinoid receptor-independent apoptotic properties. (NCI04)
A synthetic retinoid that is used orally as a chemopreventive against prostate cancer and in women at risk of developing contralateral breast cancer. It is also effective as an antineoplastic agent.

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Drug Indication
Investigated for use/treatment in macular degeneration.

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Mechanism of Action
Fenretinide inhibits the growth of several human cancer cell lines, acting through both retinoid-receptor-dependent and retinoid-receptor-independent mechanisms.1In vivo, fenretinide selectively accumulates in breast tissue and is particularly active in inhibiting rat mammary carcinogenesis.1 An important feature of fenretinide is its ability to inhibit cell growth through the induction of apoptosis rather than through differentiation, an effect that is strikingly different from that of vitamin A.1 In contrast to tamoxifen, which inhibits only estrogen receptor (ER)-positive tumors, fenretinide induces apoptosis in both ER-positive and ER-negative breast cancer cell lines.2 All of these properties render fenretinide an attractive candidate for breast cancer chemoprevention.

C26H33NO2

391.5457

391.251

65646-68-6

5288209

Light yellow to yellow solid powder

1.1±0.1 g/cm3

597.6±42.0 °C at 760 mmHg

162-163°C

315.2±27.9 °C

0.0±1.8 mmHg at 25°C

1.607

7.41

2

2

6

29

726

0

CC1=C(C(CCC1)(C)C)/C=C/C(=C/C=C/C(=C/C(=O)NC2=CC=C(C=C2)O)/C)/C

AKJHMTWEGVYYSE-FXILSDISSA-N

InChI=1S/C26H33NO2/c1-19(11-16-24-21(3)10-7-17-26(24,4)5)8-6-9-20(2)18-25(29)27-22-12-14-23(28)15-13-22/h6,8-9,11-16,18,28H,7,10,17H2,1-5H3,(H,27,29)/b9-6+,16-11+,19-8+,20-18+

(2E,4E,6E,8E)-N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,7-dimethyl-9-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-1-en-1-yl)nona-2,4,6,8-tetraenamide

4-HPR McNR-1967 McNR1967 McNR 1967 HPR Fenretinide

2934.99.9001

Powder      -20°C    3 years

                     4°C     2 years

In solvent   -80°C    6 months

                  -20°C    1 month

Room temperature (This product is stable at ambient temperature for a few days during ordinary shipping and time spent in Customs)

DMSO : ≥ 130 mg/mL (~332.01 mM)

Solubility in Formulation 1: ≥ 2.5 mg/mL (6.38 mM) (saturation unknown) in 10% DMSO + 40% PEG300 + 5% Tween80 + 45% Saline (add these co-solvents sequentially from left to right, and one by one), clear solution.
For example, if 1 mL of working solution is to be prepared, you can add 100 μL of 25.0 mg/mL clear DMSO stock solution to 400 μL PEG300 and mix evenly; then add 50 μL Tween-80 to the above solution and mix evenly; then add 450 μL normal saline to adjust the volume to 1 mL.
Preparation of saline: Dissolve 0.9 g of sodium chloride in 100 mL ddH₂ O to obtain a clear solution.

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Solubility in Formulation 2: ≥ 2.5 mg/mL (6.38 mM) (saturation unknown) in 10% DMSO + 90% (20% SBE-β-CD in Saline) (add these co-solvents sequentially from left to right, and one by one), clear solution.
For example, if 1 mL of working solution is to be prepared, you can add 100 μL of 25.0 mg/mL clear DMSO stock solution to 900 μL of 20% SBE-β-CD physiological saline solution and mix evenly.
Preparation of 20% SBE-β-CD in Saline (4°C，1 week): Dissolve 2 g SBE-β-CD in 10 mL saline to obtain a clear solution.

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Solubility in Formulation 3: ≥ 2.5 mg/mL (6.38 mM) (saturation unknown) in 10% DMSO + 90% Corn Oil (add these co-solvents sequentially from left to right, and one by one), clear solution.
For example, if 1 mL of working solution is to be prepared, you can add 100 μL of 25.0 mg/mL clear DMSO stock solution to 900 μL of corn oil and mix evenly.

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 (Please use freshly prepared in vivo formulations for optimal results.)