Growth modification of normal and tumor cell lines with retinol.

The behavior of some normal and tumor cell lines was studied after treatment with retinol. Human amnion CCL-25 cells, human embryonic intestine CCL-6 cells, human colon adenocarcinoma LOVO cells, and mouse hepatoma BW-1 cells were used. Acute and chronic toxicity of vitamin A was evaluated. The effect of retinol on cell proliferation was monitored with regard to the cell growth rate and the number of cells at saturation density. The influence of the metabolic status of the cell was studied with respect to its susceptibility to antiproliferative effect of retinol. Major effects on growth inhibition could be observed with BW-1 and CCL-6 cells, especially when they were seeded at low density.