title: The role of vitamin D in cancer prevention.
abstract: Vitamin D, also known as cholecalciferol, is the precursor to the active steroid hormone 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (calcitriol; 1, 25(OH)2D3). The main physiological role for 1, 25(OH)2D3 is to regulate calcium and inorganic phosphate homeostasis for bone health. More recently, vitamin D has been investigated for its effects in the prevention and treatment of a variety of diseases such as cancer, autoimmune disorders, and cardiovascular disease. Preclinical data strongly support a role for vitamin D in the prevention of cancer through its anti-proliferative, pro-apoptotic, and anti-angiogenic effects on cells. Epidemiologic and clinical studies have shown mixed data on the correlation between serum vitamin D levels and cancer risk. This report seeks to outline results from the most recent preclinical and clinical studies investigating the potential role of vitamin D in cancer prevention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
authors.forename: Rachel A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ness
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
authors.forename: Duane D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA. Electronic address: wli@uthsc.edu.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D002117:Calcitriol / Q000097:blood*; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; D002762:Cholecalciferol; D002117:Calcitriol
keywords: Calcitriol; Cancer prevention; Cancer prognosis; Vitamin D; Vitamin D deficiency