4-oxo-fenretinide

**4-oxo-fenretinide** is a metabolite of the synthetic retinoid fenretinide (4-HPR), a derivative of vitamin A. It has demonstrated potent anticancer properties by inducing apoptosis and inhibiting cell proliferation across various cancer cell lines, including ovarian, breast, cervical, and neuroblastoma[1][3][5][6]. Its mechanism of action includes inhibition of tubulin polymerization, leading to mitotic arrest, multipolar spindle formation, and G2-M phase cell cycle arrest. Additionally, it activates apoptotic pathways through reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, endoplasmic reticulum stress response, and Jun N-terminal Kinase (JNK) signaling, independent of nuclear retinoid receptors (RAR)[1][3][6]. It also upregulates proapoptotic proteins (such as p53, p21, and PLAB), caspase activation (notably caspase-3 and -9 but not caspase-8), and influences ceramide synthesis and histone modifier proteins (EZH2, JMJD3) via epigenetic modulation[1][3][6].

Other names

4-oxo-N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide4-oxo-4-HPR