Vitamin D - pivotal nutraceutical in the regulation of cancer metastasis and angiogenesis

Curr Med Chem. 2013;20(33):4109-20. doi: 10.2174/09298673113209990194.

Abstract

Various epidemiological studies have demonstrated that vitamin D may play important roles in the pathogenesis and progression of cancer. Vitamin D is one of the most pivotal nutraceuticals whose active metabolite, calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3), possesses anti-proliferative, pro-apoptotic, and pro-differentiating capabilities. Accumulating evidence indicates that the potential benefits of using vitamin D in cancer are not only anti-cancer cell proliferation which is linked with its anti-inflammatory effects, including the suppression of prostaglandin metabolism and inhibition of NF-κB signaling, but also suppressing tumor metastasis and angiogenesis. Here, we present a systematic summary of the effects of vitamin D in the chemoprevention and chemotherapy of cancer, especially anti-metastatic and anti-angiogenic actions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / metabolism
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / prevention & control*
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / drug effects*
  • Receptors, Calcitriol / metabolism
  • Retinoid X Receptors / metabolism
  • Vitamin D / metabolism
  • Vitamin D / pharmacology*
  • Vitamin D / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Receptors, Calcitriol
  • Retinoid X Receptors
  • VDR protein, human
  • Vitamin D