Combination Treatment of Retinoic Acid Plus Focal Adhesion Kinase Inhibitor Prevents Tumor Growth and Breast Cancer Cell Metastasis.

All-trans retinoic acid (RA), the primary metabolite of vitamin A, controls the development and homeostasis of organisms and tissues. RA and its natural and synthetic derivatives, both known as retinoids, are promising agents in treating and chemopreventing different neoplasias, including breast cancer (BC). Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a crucial regulator of cell migration, and its overexpression is associated with tumor metastatic behavior.

Synergistic antitumor activity by combining trastuzumab with retinoic acid in HER2 positive human breast cancer cells.

Breast cancer can be classified into molecular subtypes. Tumors overexpressing HER2 protein are more aggressive and metastatic; hence, patients have a poor prognosis. Anti-HER2 strategies, such as the monoclonal antibody Trastuzumab (Tz), have therefore been developed.