Clinical significance of serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D in breast cancer: An Indian scenario

J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2020 Sep:202:105726. doi: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2020.105726. Epub 2020 Jul 15.

Abstract

Recent evidences suggest a protective mechanism of vitamin D signaling against breast cancer by the autocrine/paracrine manner and may modestly reduce the risk of breast cancer. Despite lots of sunshine, vitamin D deficiency is widespread in India. Moreover, there are limited studies from Indian population regarding circulatory 25(OH) D and breast cancer risk. Thus, the aim of the present study is to investigate circulatory 25(OH) D in relation to breast cancer risk and its association with various clinico-pathological parameters from Indian population. Total 297 subjects, comprising of 157 controls and 140 breast cancer patients were enrolled for the study. Circulatory 25(OH) D was analyzed by HPLC. Statistical analysis was carried out by SPSS software version 15. Further, subjects were categorized into severe, moderate, mild vitamin D deficiency and sufficiency. The prevalence of severe and moderate 25(OH) D deficiency was higher in breast cancer patients as compared to controls. Mean values of 25(OH) D were lower in breast cancer patients as compared to controls in mild, moderate and severe deficient groups (p = 0.07, p = 0.003 and p = 0.001). Moreover, 25(OH) D was significantly lower in postmenopausal breast cancer patients as compared to premenopausal breast cancer patients, particularly in severe deficient group. The levels of 25(OH) D were lower in ER and PR negative receptor status as compared to the positive receptor in severe deficient category (p = 0.06 and p = 0.09 respectively). Whereas, the mean values of 25(OH) D were lower in HER 2 negative receptor status as compared to positive receptor status in the moderate deficient category (p = 0.09). Further, severe deficient group showed significantly lower levels of 25(OH) Din TNBC as compared to luminal A subtype (p = 0.01). Thus, Results indicate that 25(OH) D deficiency might be associated with increased risk of breast cancer. Moreover, severe 25(OH) D deficiency is associated with aggressive behavior of breast cancer.

Keywords: 25 (OH) D; Breast cancer; Vitamin D signaling pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Breast Neoplasms / blood*
  • Breast Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Female
  • Humans
  • India / epidemiology
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Receptors, Progesterone
  • Risk Factors
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Vitamin D / analogs & derivatives*
  • Vitamin D / blood
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / blood*
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / epidemiology
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / pathology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Receptors, Progesterone
  • Vitamin D
  • 25-hydroxyvitamin D
  • ERBB2 protein, human
  • Receptor, ErbB-2