Tumor cell differentiation is the same source of cells gradually produced by splitting on the stability of the difference between structure and function of the process. Cancer is an abnormal cell differentiation disease. However, in recent years found that certain tumor cells two neuroblastoma, leukemia and melanoma located in vitro, induce tumor mass induced to differentiate into normal cells or nearly normal cells, which opened for the therapy of cancer a new way .
At present, a dozen clinical trials of tumor cell differentiation. Disease in the test with acute non-lymphocytic leukemia before radiotherapy place mostly because of its efficacy indicators clear, objective and easy to detect the cell to make it; low-dose Ara past and retinoic acid is the most clinical studies to help differentiate the two agents. The former and the former leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia effect. The latter (umbrella anti-retinoic acid) on human promyelocytic leukemia significant effect. Recently in the process of looking for retinoic acid derivatives, also found that vinegar and Victoria Wei gum rubber acid on human promyelocytic leukemia cells were also significantly induced tumor cell differentiation, and significantly reduced side effects compared with retinoic acid, has now entered clinical study .