title: Vitamin D in cancer chemoprevention.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is increasing evidence that Vitamin D (Vit D) and its metabolites, besides their well-known calcium-related functions, may also exert antiproliferative, pro-differentiating, and immune modulatory effects on tumor cells in vitro and may also delay tumor growth in vivo.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this review is to provide fresh insight into the most recent advances on the role of Vit D and its analogues as chemopreventive drugs in cancer therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review of experimental and clinical studies on Vit D and cancer was undertaken by using the major electronic health database including ISI Web of Science, Medline, PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Experimental and clinical observations suggest that Vit D and its analogues may be effective in preventing the malignant transformation and/or the progression of various types of human tumors including breast cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and some hematological malignances. These findings suggest the possibility of the clinical use of these molecules as novel potential chemopreventive and anticancer agents.
authors: Unit of Physiology and Pharmacology, DIGISPO and.
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Giammanco
authors: Danila
authors: D
authors: Di Majo
authors: Maurizio
authors: M
authors: La Guardia
authors: Stefania
authors: S
authors: Aiello
authors: Marilena
authors: M
authors: Crescimannno
authors: Carla
authors: C
authors: Flandina
authors: Francesca M
authors: FM
authors: Tumminello
authors: Gaetano
authors: G
authors: Leto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D018890:Chemoprevention / Q000639:trends*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D014807:Vitamin D
keywords: Calcitriol; Vitamin D analogues; cancer prevention