title: Low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin d concentrations are associated with increased risk for melanoma and unfavourable prognosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Low vitamin D status (serum 25(OH)D concentration) is associated with increased incidence and unfavourable outcome of various types of cancer. However, there are limited data on influence of serum 25(OH)D on risk and prognosis of malignant melanoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Basal serum 25(OH)D concentrations were retrospectively analyzed in a cohort of melanoma patients (n = 324) and healthy controls (n = 141). We tested the hypothesis that serum 25(OH)D concentrations are predictive of melanoma risk, thickness of primary melanomas, and overall survival (OS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median serum 25(OH)D concentrations were significantly lower (p = 0.004) in melanoma patients (median = 13.6 ng/ml) as compared to controls (median = 15.6 ng/ml). Primary tumors of patients with low serum 25(OH)D concentrations (<10 ng/ml) had significantly (p = 0.006) greater Breslow thickness (median: 1.9 mm) as compared to patients with higher levels (>20 ng/ml; median: 1.00 mm). Patients with 25(OH)D serum concentrations in the lowest quartile had inferior overall survival (median: 80 months) comparing with the highest quartile (median: 195 months; p = 0.049).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data support the concept that serum 25(OH)D concentrations are associated with risk and prognosis of melanoma. Whether normalizing serum 25(OH)D concentrations in these patients improves outcomes will require testing in future clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical and Experimental Photo-Dermatology, Department of Dermatology, The Saarland University Hospital, Homburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bade
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical and Experimental Photo-Dermatology, Department of Dermatology, The Saarland University Hospital, Homburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zdebik
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Biometry, Epidemiology and Medical Informatics, The Saarland University Hospital, Homburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wagenpfeil
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Biometry, Epidemiology and Medical Informatics, The Saarland University Hospital, Homburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gräber
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, The Saarland University Hospital, Homburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Geisel
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical and Experimental Photo-Dermatology, Department of Dermatology, The Saarland University Hospital, Homburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vogt
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical and Experimental Photo-Dermatology, Department of Dermatology, The Saarland University Hospital, Homburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reichrath
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D