title: Vitamin D and its revelance to cancer.
abstract: It has become apparent during the last few years that 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D, the steroid hormone that is formed from the biotransformation of vitamin D in the body, plays a much wider role in biology than it was thought until recently. Beyond its classical role in mineral and skeletal homeostasis, 1,25-dihydroxy-Vitamin D is involved in the regulation of the growth, differentiation and function of a wide range of normal as well as malignant tissues. This article provides an update of the metabolism, the mechanism of action and the role of the vitamin D endocrine system in normal biology. In addition, it reviews recent evidence for the involvement of 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D in cancer and other malignancies and addresses the basic and clinical implications of this evidence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Manolagas
mesh_terms: D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000502:physiology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; D014807:Vitamin D