Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in patients with vulvar cancer.
BACKGROUND
The anticarcinogenic potential of vitamin D 25(OH)D has been attributed to the inhibition of proliferation of cells from different carcinomas. Reduced serum levels of 25(OH)D are associated with an increased incidence of various types of cancer. The influence of serum 25(OH)D on the incidence and outcome of patients with vulvar cancer is unknown.


METHODS
The serum 25(OH)D levels in 24 patients with vulvar cancer and 24 age-matched cancer-free patients was investigated. The blood samples were collected between October 2009 and September 2010 and time of blood collection of each patient and control was matched to avoid seasonal variations between the pairs.


RESULTS
The median 25(OH)D serum levels in the under 50 year old group of patients were significantly lower in the vulvar cancer group than the controls. The younger cancer group also had an age-related trend of lower median serum level than the older population. In the control population the trend was vice versa, yet this finding was not statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum 25(OH)D has a possible role in the pathogenesis and progression of vulvar cancer, but further investigations of the association of vitamin D and vulvar cancer as well as regarding its influence on patient survival and quality of life are warranted in the future.
Department of Gynecology and Obstretics, Helios Hospital Krefeld, Lutherplatz 40, 47805 Krefeld, Germany. darius.salehin@helios-kliniken.de
Darius
D
Salehin
Christina
C
Haugk
Marc
M
Thill
Tim
T
Cordes
Daniela
D
Hornung
Andre
A
Abu-Hechle
Bernhard
B
Hemmerlein
Michael
M
Friedrich
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D015996:Survival Rate; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D014846:Vulvar Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality*
D014807:Vitamin D; C097949:1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D