Serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D levels in early and advanced breast cancer

Carlo Palmieri ^1*, Thomas MacGregor ¹, Samia Girgis ¹ and David Vigushin ¹

¹ Imperial College London, United Kingdom

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: c.palmieri{at}imperial.ac.uk.

Accepted 23 August 2006

Abstract

Background: Laboratory and epidemiological studies have implicated vitamin D deficiency in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) promotes differentiation and apoptosis, and potently inhibits proliferation of malignant breast epithelial cells in culture. It has previously been shown that serum levels of 1,25(OH)2D are higher in normal women compared to patients with primary breast cancer. This study aims to clarify the role of vitamin D in breast cancer progression by comparing the levels of serum vitamin D in patients with early and advanced breast cancer.

Methods: Circulating levels of 25 hydroxyvitamin D 25(OH)D, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and calcium were measured in 279 caucasian women with invasive breast cancer, 204 with early stage malignancy and 75 with locally advanced or metastatic disease.

Results: Patients with early stage breast cancer had significantly higher circulating levels of 25(OH)D (P=0.0049) and significantly lower PTH (P=0.0001) levels compared to those with advanced disease. Calcium levels did not differ significantly (p=0.74).

Conclusion: Serum levels of 25(OH)D are significantly higher in patients with early stage breast cancer compared to those with locally advanced and/or metastatic disease.

Key Words: Breast Cancer, Calcium, PTH, Vitamin D

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Goodwin, P. J., Ennis, M., Pritchard, K. I., Koo, J., Hood, N. (2009). Prognostic Effects of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels in Early Breast Cancer. JCO 27: 3757-3763 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• SIMMONS, C., AMIR, E., DRANITSARIS, G., CLEMONS, M., WONG, B., VEITH, R., COLE, D. E.C. (2009). Altered Calcium Metabolism in Patients on Long-term Bisphosphonate Therapy for Metastatic Breast Cancer. Anticancer Res 29: 2707-2711 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Crew, K. D., Shane, E., Cremers, S., McMahon, D. J., Irani, D., Hershman, D. L. (2009). High Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency Despite Supplementation in Premenopausal Women With Breast Cancer Undergoing Adjuvant Chemotherapy. JCO 27: 2151-2156 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Perez-Lopez, F. R., Chedraui, P., Haya, J. (2009). Review Article: Vitamin D Acquisition and Breast Cancer Risk. Reproductive Sciences 16: 7-19 [Abstract]  
• Camacho, P. M., Dayal, A. S., Diaz, J. L., Nabhan, F. A., Agarwal, M., Norton, J. G., Robinson, P. A., Albain, K. S. (2008). Prevalence of Secondary Causes of Bone Loss Among Breast Cancer Patients With Osteopenia and Osteoporosis. JCO 26: 5380-5385 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Wang-Gillam, A., Miles, D. A., Hutchins, L. F. (2008). Evaluation of Vitamin D Deficiency in Breast Cancer Patients on Bisphosphonates. The Oncologist 13: 821-827 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Cantor, I. (2008). Shedding Light on Vitamin D and Integrative Oncology. Integr Cancer Ther 7: 81-89 [Abstract]  
• John, E. M., Schwartz, G. G., Koo, J., Wang, W., Ingles, S. A. (2007). Sun Exposure, Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphisms, and Breast Cancer Risk in a Multiethnic Population. Am J Epidemiol 166: 1409-1419 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Autier, P., Gandini, S. (2007). Vitamin D Supplementation and Total Mortality: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Arch Intern Med 167: 1730-1737 [Abstract] [Full Text]