There is considerable controversy over how the retinoid nuclear receptor pathway, which is activated by the vitamin A metabolite retinoic acid, regulates health and how it ought to be pharmaceutically manipulated. 

While retinoid agonists offer clear benefits to some patients with rare bone growth disorders, acute promyelocytic leukemia and some dermatologic diseases, retinoid pathway activation can have serious side effects in both the short and long term. This review, led by Ludwig Princeton's Yibin Kang, discusses research that suggests inhibition of the retinoid pathway may be a compelling therapeutic strategy for solid cancers and metabolic syndromes and cautions against continued testing of retinoid agonists in cancer patients.