Relevance of Vitamin D in melanoma development, progression and therapy

Abstract

Melanoma is one of the most lethal types of skin cancer, with a poor prognosis once the disease enters metastasis. The efficacy of currently available treatment schemes for advanced melanomas is low, expensive, and burdened by significant side-effects. Therefore, there is a need to develop new treatment options. Skin cells are able to activate Vitamin D via classical and non-classical pathways. Vitamin D derivatives have anticancer properties which promote differentiation and inhibit proliferation. The role of systemic Vitamin D in patients with melanoma is unclear as epidemiological studies are not definitive. In contrast, experimental data have clearly shown that Vitamin D and its derivatives have anti-melanoma properties. Furthermore, molecular and clinicopathological studies have demonstrated a correlation between defects in Vitamin D signaling and progression of melanoma and disease outcome. Therefore, adequate Vitamin D signaling can play a role in the treatment of melanoma.