Vitamin A: Modulating Effect on Breast Carcinogenesis

Breast cancer has a multifactorial etiology and, among the main causal factors, the dietary profile stands out, mainly the components of the pro-inflammatory diet and their interaction with genetic characteristics. In this sense, deciphering the molecular networks involved in the proliferation of cancer cells in breast tissue can determine ways of action of organic compounds that modulate the pathogenesis of cancer, such as vitamin A and analogs, as well as their possible mechanisms of modulation of breast tumorigenesis. This is a review study conducted according to the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and by consulting the PubMed and Web of Science databases including articles, published in Portuguese, English and Spanish, in the last five years. 126 articles were obtained, of which 13 were selected for full analysis and only 6 were included in the study for meeting the eligibility criteria. The results of the compiled studies demonstrate the role of some retinol-binding proteins in metabolism, as well as in differentiation, cell proliferation and inflammation. Although controversial, the results point to the use of these proteins as possible prognostic markers. The need for further studies in humans is also emphasized in order to assess the main effects of vitamin isoforms on tumor activity.