The present invention contemplates methods of treating, reducing, inhibiting or preventing several diseases by the administration of flexible heteroarotinoids. Among the diseases or conditions which can benefit from treatment with flexible heteroarotinoids as described herein are, (1) cancers and other diseases that involve abnormal differentiation, (2) diabetes, (3) hemophilia, (4) liver disease, (5) diseases involving human aldehyde dehydrogenase 2, (6) polycystic kidney disease, (7) lysosomal storage diseases, (8) high cholesterol, (9) obesity, (10) high triglycerides, (11) glycoprotein metabolism diseases, and (12) diseases involving abnormal angiogenesis.