Pathogenic roles of alterations in vitamin D and vitamin D receptor in gastric tumorigenesis

Abstract

Gastric cancer is currently the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, especially in Japan, Korea and China, and the 5-year survival rate of gastric cancer is less than 30%. Thus, it is important to shed more lights on novel agents to prevent gastric cancer or to improve survival rate of the patients. Vitamin D not only maintains calcium and bone homeostasis, but also mostly inhibits tumor genesis, invasion, and metastasis through activation of vitamin D receptor. Although epidemiological results are not consistent, accumulating evidence from gastric cancer cells, animal models, and clinical trials suggest that vitamin D deficiency may increase the risk and mortality of gastric cancer, but vitamin D supplement might be a safe and economical way to prevent or treat gastric cancer. Here, we reviewed the current studies on vitamin D and its receptor and focused on the pathogenic roles of their alterations in gastric tumorigenesis.

A Narrative Role of Vitamin D and Its Receptor: With Current Evidence on the Gastric Tissues

“…Du et al reported that 1α,25(OH) 2 D3 and the VDR interaction can induce a cascade of gene regulation and cell signaling reactions to promote anti-tumor mechanisms [163]. Vitamin D and its analogues play an important role in reducing the risk of gastric adenocarcinomas.…”

A Review of the Potential Benefits of Increasing Vitamin D Status in Mongolian Adults through Food Fortification and Vitamin D Supplementation

“…However, in Australia, the reduced risk of esophageal cancer with lifetime ambient UV radiation was limited to esophageal and esophagogastric junction adenocarcinomas, with no reduction for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma [72]. A further review in 2017 reported accumulating evidence from gastric cancer cells, animal models, and clinical trials to suggest that vitamin D deficiency may increase the risk and mortality of gastric cancer, implying that vitamin D supplementation might be a safe and economical way to reduce gastric cancer risks both prospectively and during treatment [73]. Supporting evidence that vitamin D has the potential to reduce the risk of gastric cancer is provided by studies reporting that vitamin D repletion can eradicate Helicobacter pylori infection, itself an important risk factor for gastric cancer [74,75].…”

Vitamin D Status and Gastric Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study in Koreans

“…A recent meta-analysis reported that sufficient vitamin D could be associated with a decrease in H. pylori infection, a major risk factor for GC [ 6 ]. A review study by Du et al suggested that vitamin D may inhibit viability, proliferation and metastasis of gastric cancer cells and inhibit Helicobacter pylori infection and Helicobacter -related gastric cancer [ 7 ]. Conversely, another meta-analysis study reported no statistically significant relationship between serum vitamin D concentrations and risk of GC, for the whole population nor for gender-stratified analyses [ 8 ].…”