Vitamin D and prostate cancer prevention and treatment

• Published in: Trends in endocrinology and metabolism 2003-11, Vol.14 (9), p.423-430
• Main Authors: Chen, Tai C, Holick, Michael F
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Cholecalciferol - therapeutic use; Comorbidity; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Nephrology. Urinary tract diseases; Prostatic Neoplasms - epidemiology; Prostatic Neoplasms - physiopathology; Prostatic Neoplasms - prevention & control; Prostatic Neoplasms - therapy; Receptors, Calcitriol - physiology; Steroid Hydroxylases - metabolism; Tumors of the urinary system; Ultraviolet Rays; United States - epidemiology; Urinary tract. Prostate gland; Vertebrates: endocrinology; Vitamin D - analogs & derivatives; Vitamin D - metabolism; Vitamin D Deficiency - epidemiology; Vitamin D Deficiency - physiopathology
• ISSN: 1043-2760; 1879-3061
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2003.09.004

Human prostate cells contain receptors for 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, the active form of vitamin D. Prostate cancer cells respond to vitamin D 3 with increases in differentiation and apoptosis, and decreases in proliferation, invasiveness and metastasis. These findings strongly support the use of vitamin D-based therapies for prostate cancer and/or as a second-line therapy if androgen deprivation fails. The association between either decreased sun exposure or vitamin D deficiency and the increased risk of prostate cancer at an earlier age, and with a more aggressive progression, indicates that adequate vitamin D nutrition should be a priority for men of all ages. Here we summarize recent advances in epidemiological and biochemical studies of the endocrine and autocrine systems associated with vitamin D and their implications for prostate cancer and in the evaluation of vitamin D 3 and its analogs in preventing and/or treating prostate cancer.