Role of vitamin D metabolism in cutaneous tumour formation and progression

Abstract

Objectives Very limited information is available on the role of vitamin D in skin carcinogenesis. For most individuals, skin cancer can be readily managed with surgery; however, some patients may face life-threatening neoplasia. Sun exposure, specifically UV radiation, is a causative agent for development of skin cancer, though, somewhat ironically, sunlight through the production of vitamin D may have protective effect against some skin cancers. This review focuses on the development and progression of cutaneous carcinogenesis and the role of vitamin D in the prevention of the initiation and progression of lethal skin cancers. Key findings Vitamin D is involved in regulation of multiple signalling pathways that have implications in carcinogenesis. Skin cancer metastasis depends on the tumour microenvironment, where vitamin D metabolites play a key role in prevention of certain molecular events involved in tumour progression. The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is a well-known potent regulator of cellular growth and differentiation. Summary The VDR's possible involvement in cell death, tumour microenvironment and angiogenesis makes it a candidate agent for cancer regulation.

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“…A role for 25-hydroxyvitamin D and its receptor, VDR, has been implicated in the biology of a number of physiologic and pathophysiologic cutaneous processes including skin aging (Reichrath, 2012), wound healing (Luderer et al, 2013), psoriasis (Hoss et al, 2013), epidermal Langerhans cell functioning (Yasmin et al, 2013), and both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer (Nemazannikova et al, 2013). The action of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and VDR in keratinocytes may help protect against non-melanoma skin cancer by regulating cell proliferation and differentiation (Bikle et al, 2013; Lehmann, 2009).…”