Low Plasma 25-Hydoxyvitamin D at Diagnosis Predicts Poor Outcomes in Patients with Bladder Cancer: A Prospective Cohort Study

• Published in: Nutrition and cancer Vol. 73; no. 1; pp. 55 - 61
• Main Authors: Ben Fradj, Mohamed Kacem, Bibi, Mokhtar, Hammami, Mohamed Bassem, Kallel, Amani, Nouira, Yassine, Feki, Moncef
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 02-01-2021; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: 25-Hydroxyvitamin D; Applications programs; Bladder; Bladder cancer; Calciferol; Cancer; Cohort analysis; Diagnosis; Immunoassay; Invasiveness; Mortality; Muscles; Plasma; Quality of life; Urothelial cancer; Vitamin D; Vitamin deficiency
• ISSN: 0163-5581; 1532-7914
• DOI: 10.1080/01635581.2020.1737150

This study aimed to investigate whether plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) at diagnosis predicts poor outcomes in patients with urothelial bladder cancer. A total of 177 patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) were prospectively followed up over a period extending beyond 6 years. Data on poor outcomes (ie., recurrence, progression, and mortality) were collected. Plasma 25-OHD was measured by immunoassay. Cutoff-Finder web application was used to determine the best 25-OHD cutoff point to predict a specific poor outcome. Cox-hazard models were applied to test how plasma 25-OHD affect patients outcome while adjusting for potential confounding factors. During the follow-up period, tumor recurrence and progression occurred in 40.7% and 14.1% of patients, respectively and 11.3% of patients died. Baseline 25-OHD was lower in patients who experienced poor outcome (12.2 ± 7.44 vs. 16.7 ± 10.6 ng/mL; p < 0.001). Multi-adjusted HR (95% CI) for vitamin D deficiency (25-OHD < 12 ng/mL) was 2.09 (1.27-3.44) for recurrence, 2.63 (1.06-6.49) for progression and 2.93 (1.04-8.25) for mortality in patients with NMIBC. Low plasma 25-OHD in NMIBC patients is associated with higher risk of poor outcome. Future work is required to test whether correction of vitamin D deficiency will improve quality of life and extend survival in these patients.