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Panretin (alitretinoin) is a naturally-occurring endogenous retinoid that binds to and activates all known intracellular retinoid receptor subtypes. Once activated these receptors function as transcription factors that regulate the expression of genes that control the process of cellular differentiation and proliferation in both normal and neoplastic cells.

Targretin (bexarotene) selectively binds and activates retinoid X receptor subtypes. Once activated, these receptors function as transcription factors that regulate the expression of genes that control cellular differentiation and proliferation. Bexarotene inhibits the growth in vitro of some tumor cell lines of hematopoietic and squamous cell origin.

Vesanoid (tretinoin) is not a cytolytic agent but instead induces cytodifferentiation and decreased proliferation of acute promyelocytic leukemia cells in culture and in vivo.