The Role of Vitamin D as a Prognostic Marker in Papillary Thyroid Cancer

Abstract

The role of vitamin D in modulating several cancer-related pathways has received an increasing amount of attention in the past several years. Previous literature has found an abundance of evidence of vitamin D exerting an anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory, and pro-differentiation effect in various types of cancers including breast, colon, prostate, and pancreatic cancer. Although the link between vitamin D and thyroid cancer remains controversial, both biochemical evidence and clinical studies have attempted to establish a link between papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and vitamin D status. Furthermore, the use of vitamin D as a prognostic marker has received increased attention, both in regards to clinical outcomes and cancer staging. In this review, we briefly discuss the metabolism and proposed mechanism of action of vitamin D in the context of PTC, and explore links between modulators in the vitamin D pathway and progression of PTC. We provide evidence from both clinical studies as well as molecular studies of metabolic targets, including vitamin D receptor and activating enzymes exerting an effect on PTC tissue, which indicate that vitamin D may play a significant prognostic role in PTC.

Papillary Thyroid Cancer Prognosis: An Evolving Field

“…Several experimental and clinical data suggest that other molecules may have a role in the prognostic stratification of TC patients. These include immune checkpoint factors and immune-related signature (IRS), estrogen receptors, Vitamin D, tumor angiogenic microenvironment, circular RNAs, long noncoding RNAs, and the angiotensin converting enzymes ACE and ACE2 [ 184 , 185 , 186 , 187 , 188 , 189 , 190 , 191 , 192 , 193 , 194 ]. However, all of them are awaiting validation in large case studies.…”

The Role of Genetic Polymorphisms in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: A 2023 Update

“…Low vitamin D levels were correlated with an increased risk of advanced papillary thyroid cancer in several studies, being associated with local or distant metastasis and having a potential prognostic impact [ 45 , 46 , 47 ]. Vitamin D receptor ( VDR ) polymorphisms might increase the risk of several types of cancer (breast, ovarian, colorectal) [ 48 , 49 , 50 ].…”

Vitamin D Status and VDR Polymorphisms as Prognostic Factors in Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma

“…Factors in Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma ANDRA-MARIA COCOLOS 1 , ANDREI MURESAN 2 , ANDRA CARAGHEORGHEOPOL 2 , MIRCEA GHEMIGIAN 3 , DUMITRU IOACHIM 4 and CATALINA POIANA 1,5 clinical and histopathologic findings of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma.…”

“…Thyroid cancer has rapidly become the most frequent endocrine malignancy, accounting for 3.2% of all new cancer diagnoses (1). Its increasing incidence with a constant death rate of 0.5/100,000 persons has been attributed to a more extensive imaging thyroid screening (2).…”