title: The mechanism of calcitriol in cancer prevention and treatment.
abstract: Calcitriol (1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3) is the most biologically active metabolite derived from the secosteroid hormone vitamin D. Apart from its calcium homeostatic effects, epidemiological studies have shown that reduced serum calcitriol levels are associated with an increased risk of some types of cancer. Numerous recent epidemiological and experimental studies have reported that it elicits anti-proliferative, apoptotic and differentiation effects in several malignant cell types. The inhibition of calcitriol results in reduced effects of anticancer drugs. Results from a number of clinical trials revealed that sufficient dosing and exposure to calcitriol is critical for achieving antitumor effects during intermittent regimens. This review summarizes the role of calcitriol in anticancer therapy and the progress in understanding its mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 277 West Yanta Road, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi, China. qyma56@mail.xjtu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jiguang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Zhenhua
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Qingyong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Ang
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Fengfei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Suxia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002117:Calcitriol