The relationship between the vitamin D system and cancer
DeLuca, H.F.; Ostrem, V.
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology 206: 413-429
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0065-2598 PMID: 3035900 Document Number: 285481
The classic function of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25-DHCC), the hormonally active form of vitamin D, is the maintenance of normal values of calcium and phosphorus in the blood. 1,25-DHCC binds to a specific receptor protein and exerts its biological action by a mechanism analogous to that proposed for other steroid hormones, that is, the receptor-ligand complex acts on the chromatin to induce transcription of specific genes. Intracellular receptors that bind 1,25-DHCC with high affinity have been found in a large number of tumour cell lines examined as melanoma, osteosarcoma, and human breast and colonic carcinoma cells. The 1,25-DHCC receptor in those cells has characteristics similar to the receptor in bone and intestine, the known target tissues of the hormone. In fact, 1,25-DHCC inhibits the proliferation of melanoma, osteosarcoma and breast carcinoma cells. More recently, 1,25-DHCC has been shown to suppress the growth and induce monocytic differentiation of murine and human myeloid leukaemia cells in vitro. The results point to a previously unsuspected involvement of vitamin D in cell proliferation and differentiation and suggest that analogues of the vitamin D hormone may be of interest as possible therapeutic agents in the treatment of malignancy.