title: Role of vitamin D metabolism in cutaneous tumour formation and progression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Very limited information is available on the role of vitamin D in skin carcinogenesis. For most individuals, skin cancer can be readily managed with surgery; however, some patients may face life-threatening neoplasia. Sun exposure, specifically UV radiation, is a causative agent for development of skin cancer, though, somewhat ironically, sunlight through the production of vitamin D may have protective effect against some skin cancers. This review focuses on the development and progression of cutaneous carcinogenesis and the role of vitamin D in the prevention of the initiation and progression of lethal skin cancers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Vitamin D is involved in regulation of multiple signalling pathways that have implications in carcinogenesis. Skin cancer metastasis depends on the tumour microenvironment, where vitamin D metabolites play a key role in prevention of certain molecular events involved in tumour progression. The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is a well-known potent regulator of cellular growth and differentiation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The VDR's possible involvement in cell death, tumour microenvironment and angiogenesis makes it a candidate agent for cancer regulation.
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Victoria University, St Albans, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nemazannikova
authors.forename: Kiriakos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Antonas
authors.forename: Crispin R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Dass
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000528:radiation effects; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000528:radiation effects; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000556:secondary; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; D014807:Vitamin D