Vitamin D and differentiation in cancer

• Published in: Critical reviews in clinical laboratory sciences Vol. 46; no. 4; pp. 190 - 209
• Main Authors: Gocek, Elzbieta, Studzinski, George P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Informa UK Ltd 01-01-2009; Taylor & Francis; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Animals; Calcitriol - pharmacology; Cancer; Cell Differentiation - drug effects; Cells; Chemotherapy; Differentiation; Genotype & phenotype; Humans; myeloid leukemia; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Neoplasms - pathology; Signal transduction; signaling pathways; solid tumors; Vitamin D
• ISSN: 1040-8363; 1549-781X
• DOI: 10.1080/10408360902982128

This paper reviews the current understanding of the vitamin D-induced differentiation of neoplastic cells, which results in the generation of cells that acquire near-normal, mature phenotype. Examples of the criteria by which differentiation is recognized in each cell type are provided, and only those effects of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25D) on cell proliferation and survival that are associated with the differentiation process are emphasized. The existing knowledge, often fragmentary, of the signaling pathways that lead to vitamin D-induced differentiation of colon, breast, prostate, squamous cell carcinoma, osteosarcoma, and myeloid leukemia cancer cells is outlined. The important distinctions between the different mechanisms of 1,25D-induced differentiation that are cell-type and cell-context specific are pointed out where known. There is a considerable body of evidence that the principal human cancer cells can be suitable candidates for chemoprevention or differentiation therapy with vitamin D. However, further studies are needed to fully understand the underlying mechanisms in order to improve the therapeutic approaches.