title: Mechanism of action of vitamin D and the vitamin D receptor in colorectal cancer prevention and treatment.
abstract: Vitamin D and its analogs are potent inhibitors of colorectal cancer growth and metastasis. A number of recent studies have defined the intersections between the β-catenin-TCF pathway (a known contributor to colorectal cancer progression) and the vitamin D receptor (VDR) pathway, shedding light on the underlying mechanisms. Vitamin D also regulates the innate immune response, and as such influences susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease, a predisposing factor in colorectal cancer. Understanding the role of vitamin D in these different contexts will enable development of next generation vitamin D analogs that will serve as both chemopreventatives and cancer therapeutics, without the accompanying side effects of hypercalcemia usually associated with high vitamin D intake. This review summarizes the mechanisms of action of vitamin D and the VDR in the context of the gastrointestinal tract and colorectal carcinogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Georgetown-Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, E415 Research Building, 3970 Reservoir Road, NW, Washington, DC 20057, USA. byerss@georgetown.edu
authors.forename: Stephen W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Byers
authors.forename: Tracey
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rowlands
authors.forename: Marcy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beildeck
authors.forename: Yong-Sik
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Bong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000378:metabolism*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000378:metabolism*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; D051176:beta Catenin; D014807:Vitamin D