title: Vitamin D and colorectal cancer: molecular, epidemiological and clinical evidence.
abstract: In many cells throughout the body, vitamin D is converted into its active form calcitriol and binds to the vitamin D receptor (VDR), which functions as a transcription factor to regulate various biological processes including cellular differentiation and immune response. Vitamin D-metabolising enzymes (including CYP24A1 and CYP27B1) and VDR play major roles in exerting and regulating the effects of vitamin D. Preclinical and epidemiological studies have provided evidence for anti-cancer effects of vitamin D (particularly against colorectal cancer), although clinical trials have yet to prove its benefit. In addition, molecular pathological epidemiology research can provide insights into the interaction of vitamin D with tumour molecular and immunity status. Other future research directions include genome-wide research on VDR transcriptional targets, gene-environment interaction analyses and clinical trials on vitamin D efficacy in colorectal cancer patients. In this study, we review the literature on vitamin D and colorectal cancer from both mechanistic and population studies and discuss the links and controversies within and between the two parts of evidence.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Medical Oncology,Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, 450 Brookline Avenue,Boston,MA 02215,USA.
authors.forename: Ruoxu
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6572-1664
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dou
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Medical Oncology,Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, 450 Brookline Avenue,Boston,MA 02215,USA.
authors.forename: Kimmie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: 3Department of Nutrition,Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue,Boston,MA 02115,USA.
authors.forename: Edward L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Giovannucci
authors.affiliation: 3Department of Nutrition,Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue,Boston,MA 02115,USA.
authors.forename: JoAnn E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Manson
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Medical Oncology,Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, 450 Brookline Avenue,Boston,MA 02215,USA.
authors.forename: Zhi Rong
authors.initials: ZR
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Medical Oncology,Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, 450 Brookline Avenue,Boston,MA 02215,USA.
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ogino
mesh_terms: D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014815:Vitamins; D014807:Vitamin D; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
keywords: 25(OH)D 25-Hydroxyvitamin D; 25-Hydroxyvitamin D; CDK cyclin-dependent kinase; MPE molecular pathological epidemiology; P450 hydroxylases; VDR vitamin D receptor; Vitamin D supplementation; miR microRNA