Etarotene

**Semantic type:** Pharmacologic Substance

**Definition:** An ethylsulfonyl derivative of arotinoic acid with differentiation inducing and potential antineoplastic activities. Like other retinoic acid agents, etarotene binds to and activates retinoic acid receptors (RARs), thereby inducing changes in the expression of certain genes leading to cell differentiation and decreased cell proliferation in susceptible cells.

**Synonyms:** - 6-((E)-p-(Ethylsulfonyl)-alpha-methylstyryl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene - Arotinoid Ethyl Sulfone - Arotinoid Ethyl Sulphone - ETAROTENE - Naphthalene, 6-(2-(4-(ethylsulfonyl)phenyl)-1-methylethenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1,1,4,4-tetramethyl-, (E)- - Ro 15-1570/000