Background: Vitamin D3, acting via vitamin D receptor (VDR) affects a wide range of biological activities, including inhibition of proliferation and angiogenesis, with net antitumor effects. VDR expression is disturbed in many tumors, including melanomas.
Aim: To find correlation between VDR expression in melanomas and prognostic biomarkers.
Materials and methods: VDR was analyzed immunohistochemically in 69 cutaneous melanomas in relation to prognostic factors.
Results: Less advanced melanomas showed significantly higher VDR expression than the advanced stages. The presence of other markers such as ulceration and lack or non-brisk tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) was accompanied by significantly lower VDR expression. VDR expression also affected overall survival (OS) with most noticeable effect in the cases without ulceration.
Conclusion: High VDR expression determines a less malignant phenotype and is related to better prognosis. Loss of VDR expression affects melanoma tumor behavior, allowing for progression of disease. VDR expression can also serve as a prognostic marker in routine histopathology evaluation.
Keywords: Skin melanoma; tumor progression; vitamin D receptor.
Copyright© 2014 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved.