Vitamin D and Cancer

Abstract

Vitamin D is not really a vitamin but the precursor of a steroid hormone, the calcitriol. Calcitriol is the biologically active form of this group of pro-hormones. Calcitriol binds to vitamin D receptor (VDR) to regulate various biological processes. It plays an important role in calcium homeostasis and normal bone mineralization. However, many epidemiological and observational studies show the role of Vitamin D in several diseases, such as cancer. In fact, Vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of developing cancer. There are various mechanisms by which vitamin D influences the natural history of cancer. These include the role of vitamin D in the induction of apoptosis, stimulation of cell differentiation, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative effects and inhibition of angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis. These calcitriol actions provide a basis for its potential use in cancer therapy and chemoprevention.