Retinyl ethers, derivatives and analogues and inhibition of breast carcinogenesis

A compound having the general formula

• X—O—(CRR1)n—Y (I)
• wherein R and R1 are independently H, OH, halogen, C1-C10-alkyl, C1-C10-alkyl halide, C1-C10-alkoxy, phenoxy or an aryl group;
• n is 0 or 1;
• Y is an unsubstituted or substituted aryl;
• and X is a structure selected from the group consisting of
• wherein R2 is H, OH or ═O, R3 is CH3 or CH2OH, and R9 is H, or C1-C5 alkyl, or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof, with the provisos that (1) when R and R1 are both H, X is structure (a), R2 is H, R3 is CH3 and n is 1, then Y is not trimethoxyphenyl or 4-ethynlphenyl;
• (2) when R2 is H, R3 is CH3 X is structure (a) and n is 0, then Y is not 4-methoxyphenyl;
• (3) when R and R1 are both H, X is structure (a), R2 is H, R3 is CH3 and n is 1, then Y is not phenyl;
• and (4) when X is structure (a), n is 1 and Y is phenyl, then both R and R1 are not phenyl.