Expression of vitamin D receptor in lung cancer.
The active metabolite of vitamin D 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol is a hormone-like agent that regulates cell differentiation and proliferation. Various vitamin D derivatives have been shown to induce differentiation in neoplastic cells. The prerequisite for any hormone action is the presence of its receptor. We studied the expression of vitamin D receptor in human lung cancer cell lines and in primary lung cancer tissue. Employing the polymerase chain reaction, 10 out of 11 cell lines stemming from small-cell lung cancer and 15 out of 15 cell lines stemming from non-small-cell lung cancer demonstrated vitamin D receptor expression. An immunohistochemical analysis, using a specific monoclonal antibody, demonstrated vitamin D receptor protein expression in 31 out of 117 (26%) primary small-cell lung cancer cases tested. Positive cells exhibited a nuclear reaction pattern. Twenty-one out of 37 primary non-small-cell lung cancer cases, particularly adenocarcinomas (9/14) and squamous-cell carcinomas (10/15), exhibited vitamin D receptor. Results indicate that a subset of lung cancer cases may be susceptible to the differentiating effects of vitamin D analogues.
Kaiser
U
U
Zentrum Innere Medizin, Abt. Hämatologie/Onkologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Germany.
Schilli
M
M
Wegmann
B
B
Barth
P
P
Wedel
S
S
Hofmann
J
J
Havemann
K
K
D001483:Base Sequence; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008168:Lung / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000032:analysis*; D012016:Reference Values; D012867:Skin / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol