The Roles of UVB and Vitamin D in Reducing Risk of Cancer Incidence and Mortality: A Review of the Epidemiology, Clinical Trials, and Mechanisms

Overview

Journal Rev Endocr Metab Disord

Publisher Springer

Specialty Endocrinology

Date 2017 Feb 19

PMID 28213657

Citations 34

Authors

Meis Moukayed

William B Grant

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Global cancer incidence and mortality rates are high and increasing. Thus, it is imperative to find novel solutions to preventing cancer incidence and treating it at an affordable yet efficacious manner. The solar UVB-vitamin D-cancer hypothesis was first proposed in 1980 based on a geographical ecological study. Since then, numerous ecological and observational studies as well as studies of mechanisms have provided support for the hypothesis. However, observational studies have not provided consistent support, in part due to using a single blood draw from any season to use for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration in prospective studies with long follow-up times. Case-controls studies, in which blood is drawn near time of diagnosis, and prospective studies in which blood is drawn in the sunnier half of the year, are more likely to find significant inverse relations between 25(OH)D and cancer incidence. Three vitamin D plus calcium clinical trials have found significant reduction in all-cancer incidence. This paper reviews the evidence for vitamin D in reducing incidence of and increasing survival from breast, colorectal, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, and prostate cancer. The epidemiological evidence provides strong support for all of these types of cancer except for non-aggressive prostate cancer. Studies of the cellular mechanisms of vitamin D action in different cancer cell types, strongly indicate that vitamin D can exert protective and anti-tumorigenic activities that would retard cellular transformation, hyperplasia and cancer progression. Based on the scientific evidence reviewed in this paper, individuals and health providers can consider increasing 25(OH)D concentrations through sensible sun exposure and/or vitamin D supplementation to reduce risk of and, in conjunction with standard care, treat cancer. Public health acceptance of vitamin D for cancer prevention and treatment requires stronger support from vitamin D clinical trials.

Citing Articles

Determinants of cancer incidence and mortality among people with vitamin D deficiency: an epidemiology study using a real-world population database.

Lai Y, Chen Y, Liang F, Wu Y, Wang J, Lim S Front Nutr. 2023; 10:1294066.

PMID: 38130443 PMC: 10733456. DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1294066.

Carbon Nanofiber-Sodium Alginate Composite Aerogels Loaded with Vitamin D: The Cytotoxic and Apoptotic Effects on Colon Cancer Cells.

Ozakpinar O, Dastan H, Gurboga M, Sayin F, Ozsavci D, Caliskan Salihi E Gels. 2023; 9(7).

PMID: 37504440 PMC: 10379131. DOI: 10.3390/gels9070561.

Serum 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D Levels in Children with Acute Respiratory Infections Caused by Respiratory Virus or Atypical Pathogen Infection.

Kuang L, Liang Z, Wang C, Lin T, Zhang Y, Zhu B Nutrients. 2023; 15(6).

PMID: 36986216 PMC: 10056357. DOI: 10.3390/nu15061486.

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D status of a large Chinese population from 30 provinces by LC-MS/MS measurement for consecutive 3 years: differences by age, sex, season and province.

Bai K, Dong H, Liu L, She X, Liu C, Yu M Eur J Nutr. 2023; 62(3):1503-1516.

PMID: 36692589 DOI: 10.1007/s00394-023-03094-z.

Changes in MCP-1, HGF, and IGF-1 expression in endometrial stromal cells, PBMCs, and PFMCs of endometriotic women following 1,25(OH)2D3 treatment.

Heidari S, Kolahdouz-Mohammadi R, Khodaverdi S, Mohammadi T, Delbandi A J Cell Mol Med. 2022; 26(22):5634-5646.

PMID: 36259314 PMC: 9667513. DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.17592.

References

Brabletz T, Jung A, Kirchner T . Beta-catenin and the morphogenesis of colorectal cancer. Virchows Arch. 2002; 441(1):1-11. DOI: 10.1007/s00428-002-0642-9. View

Wahler J, So J, Cheng L, Maehr H, Uskokovic M, Suh N . Vitamin D compounds reduce mammosphere formation and decrease expression of putative stem cell markers in breast cancer. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2014; 148:148-55. PMC: 4361333. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2014.10.016. View

Wolpin B, Ng K, Bao Y, Kraft P, Stampfer M, Michaud D . Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D and risk of pancreatic cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2011; 21(1):82-91. PMC: 3253914. DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-11-0836. View

Hershberger P, Yu W, Modzelewski R, Rueger R, Johnson C, Trump D . Calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol) enhances paclitaxel antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo and accelerates paclitaxel-induced apoptosis. Clin Cancer Res. 2001; 7(4):1043-51. View

Hobaus J, Thiem U, Hummel D, Kallay E . Role of calcium, vitamin D, and the extrarenal vitamin D hydroxylases in carcinogenesis. Anticancer Agents Med Chem. 2012; 13(1):20-35. PMC: 3826118. View

Krishnan A, Swami S, Feldman D . Vitamin D and breast cancer: inhibition of estrogen synthesis and signaling. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2010; 121(1-2):343-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2010.02.009. View

Garland C, Garland F . Do sunlight and vitamin D reduce the likelihood of colon cancer?. Int J Epidemiol. 1980; 9(3):227-31. DOI: 10.1093/ije/9.3.227. View

Christakos S, Dhawan P, Liu Y, Peng X, Porta A . New insights into the mechanisms of vitamin D action. J Cell Biochem. 2003; 88(4):695-705. DOI: 10.1002/jcb.10423. View

Haugen J, Chandyo R, Ulak M, Mathisen M, Basnet S, Brokstad K . 25-Hydroxy-Vitamin D Concentration Is Not Affected by Severe or Non-Severe Pneumonia, or Inflammation, in Young Children. Nutrients. 2017; 9(1). PMC: 5295096. DOI: 10.3390/nu9010052. View

10.

Hershberger P, McGuire T, Yu W, Zuhowski E, Schellens J, Egorin M . Cisplatin potentiates 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-induced apoptosis in association with increased mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 1 (MEKK-1) expression. Mol Cancer Ther. 2002; 1(10):821-9. View

11.

Zanatta L, Bouraima-Lelong H, Delalande C, Silva F, Carreau S . Regulation of aromatase expression by 1α,25(OH)2 vitamin D3 in rat testicular cells. Reprod Fertil Dev. 2011; 23(5):725-35. DOI: 10.1071/RD10163. View

12.

Ikeda N, Uemura H, Ishiguro H, Hori M, Hosaka M, Kyo S . Combination treatment with 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and 9-cis-retinoic acid directly inhibits human telomerase reverse transcriptase transcription in prostate cancer cells. Mol Cancer Ther. 2003; 2(8):739-46. View

13.

Aguilera O, Pena C, Garcia J, Larriba M, Ordonez-Moran P, Navarro D . The Wnt antagonist DICKKOPF-1 gene is induced by 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 associated to the differentiation of human colon cancer cells. Carcinogenesis. 2007; 28(9):1877-84. DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgm094. View

14.

Fodde R, Brabletz T . Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in cancer stemness and malignant behavior. Curr Opin Cell Biol. 2007; 19(2):150-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2007.02.007. View

15.

Takeishi S, Nakayama K . To wake up cancer stem cells, or to let them sleep, that is the question. Cancer Sci. 2016; 107(7):875-81. PMC: 4946711. DOI: 10.1111/cas.12958. View

16.

Richards S, Weierstahl K, Kelts J . Vitamin D effect on growth and vitamin D metabolizing enzymes in triple-negative breast cancer. Anticancer Res. 2015; 35(2):805-10. View

17.

Yanagisawa J, Yanagi Y, Masuhiro Y, Suzawa M, Watanabe M, Kashiwagi K . Convergence of transforming growth factor-beta and vitamin D signaling pathways on SMAD transcriptional coactivators. Science. 1999; 283(5406):1317-21. DOI: 10.1126/science.283.5406.1317. View

18.

Xu Y, Shao X, Yao Y, Xu L, Chang L, Jiang Z . Positive association between circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and prostate cancer risk: new findings from an updated meta-analysis. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2014; 140(9):1465-77. DOI: 10.1007/s00432-014-1706-3. View

19.

Chen S, Zhu J, Zuo S, Ma J, Zhang J, Chen G . 1,25(OH)2D3 attenuates TGF-β1/β2-induced increased migration and invasion via inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition in colon cancer cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2015; 468(1-2):130-5. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2015.10.146. View

20.

Lappe J, Travers-Gustafson D, Davies K, Recker R, Heaney R . Vitamin D and calcium supplementation reduces cancer risk: results of a randomized trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007; 85(6):1586-91. DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/85.6.1586. View