Vitamin D receptor immunohistochemistry variability in sun-exposed and non-sun-exposed melanomas

Abstract

Ultraviolet rays are one of the leading factors in the development of melanoma (MM); however, ultraviolet rays seem not to play a role in non-sun-exposed MM, where systemic immunosuppression, anatomical, and physiological features may contribute toward the development of the malignancy. Our aim was to evaluate vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression in shield-site melanoma (ST-MM) and non-shield-site melanoma (NST-MM) to find features that could explain the different biological behavior of MM according to the area of onset. We reviewed 118 specimens of MM. VDR expression was assayed using immunohistochemistry by dividing the specimens according to the anatomical area. We included MM of the soles, feet, hands, gluteus, scrotum, skin of the penile shaft, and large vaginal labia in the ST-MM group. The NST-MM group was divided into two main categories: NST-MM of chronic sun-exposed areas, including MM of the face, scalp, neck, back of the hands, and NST-MM of intermittent sun-exposed areas, including MM of the trunk, lower, and upper limbs. In shield sites, 66.67% of MMs showed VDR expression; in intermittent sun-exposed areas, 33.3% showed VDR expression; and in chronic sun-exposed areas, only 4.66% showed VDR expression. A similar behavior was observed for Breslow's thickness, where VDR staining intensity was higher in thicker lesions, ranging between 60 and 100%. We found that VDR expression decreased from ST-MM to NST-MM. These findings confirm the hypothesis that different pathways are involved in ST-MM and NST-MM.

Oxidative Stress and Its Consequences in the Blood of Rats Irradiated with UV: Protective Effect of Cannabidiol

“…Thus, UV radiation is a causative factor, at the molecular level, of various skin lesions, including photoaging and the development of skin cancer, which accounts for about 40% of all cancers [ 11 , 12 , 13 ]. Two types predominate among skin cancers: non-melanoma skin cancers and melanoma, the most aggressive and lethal form [ 13 , 14 ], with an estimated 60–70% of cutaneous malignant melanomas caused by exposure to UV radiation [ 15 ]. This is all the more important due to the fact that UV radiation is also used in the phototherapy of skin diseases such as psoriasis [ 16 ].…”

Skin Lesion Classification Based on Surface Fractal Dimensions and Statistical Color Cluster Features Using an Ensemble of Machine Learning Techniques

“…Sometimes this is a lengthy process, and it can be quite stressful for the patient. In addition, as reported in the literature [ 44 , 45 , 46 ], melanomas and nevus may show different biological manifestations according to their anatomic locations (e.g., UV shielded sites and unshielded sites melanoma) and this can add to the complexity of the problem. The addressed lesion features in the proposed method could be used to investigate both of these kinds of cancerous cutaneous lesions.…”

Uso actual de la vitamina D en dermatología

“…A mayor nivel sérico de vitamina D existe mayor probabilidad de que el melanoma se encuentre sin ulceración y con una tasa mitótica menor, indicando un rol protector de la vitamina D en el melanoma. 25 El índice de Breslow en melanoma es el indicador pronóstico más importante. Se ha determinado que una disminución en el nivel de vitamina D se relaciona con un incremento en la profundidad de Breslow y con un estadio avanzado al momento del diagnóstico muestra un peor pronóstico.…”