Nutr Rev. 2012 Dec;70(12):721-9.
Using components of the vitamin D pathway to prevent and treat colon cancer.
Stubbins RE, Hakeem A, Núñez NP.
Source
Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
78712, USA.
Abstract
The objective of this review was to analyze the components of vitamin D and
their potential usefulness in preventing and treating colorectal cancer. The
active form of vitamin D, 1?,25(OH(2) )D(3) , targets the wnt/?-catenin pathway
by upregulating key tumor suppressor genes such as E-cadherin, which promotes an
epithelial phenotype, but this is only possible when the vitamin D receptor (VDR)
is present. Colorectal cell lines have shown that VDR expression levels decrease
in the later stages of colon cancer. In colorectal cancers with low VDR
expression, treatments to increase VDR expression could target alterations at
the genomic and epigenomic levels by modulating transcription factors such as
SNAIL1 and by utilizing histone deacetyltransferase inhibitors, respectively.
Finally, epidemiological studies suggest that the current US Recommended Dietary
Allowance should be increased to 2,000 IU in order to raise serum 25(OH)D(3)
levels above 30 ng/mL. This increase in vitamin D status can be obtained most
efficiently from sun exposure or vitamin D supplementation. In summary, vitamin
D and its metabolites could be utilized in strategies to treat and prevent colon
cancer.
© 2012 International Life Sciences Institute.
PMID: 23206285 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
PMCID: PMC3514827