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J Clin Pathol 2006;59:1334-1336 doi:10.1136/jcp.2006.042747
  • Short report

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in early and advanced breast cancer

  1. C Palmieri1,
  2. T MacGregor1,
  3. S Girgis2,
  4. D Vigushin1
  1. 1Cancer Research UK Laboratories, Department of Cancer Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
  2. 2Department of Metabolic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
  1. Correspondence to:
 C Palmieri
 Cancer Research UK Laboratories, Department of Cancer Medicine, MRC Cyclotron Building, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 ONN, UK; c.palmieri{at}imperial.ac.uk
  • Accepted 23 August 2006
  • Published Online First 17 October 2006

Abstract

Background: Laboratory and epidemiological studies have implicated vitamin D deficiency in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) promotes differentiation and apoptosis, and potently inhibits proliferation of malignant breast epithelial cells in culture. Serum levels of 1,25(OH)2D are higher in normal women than in patients with primary breast cancer.

Aim: To clarify the role of vitamin D in breast cancer progression by comparing the levels of serum vitamin D in patients with early and in those with advanced breast cancer.

Methods: Circulating levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcium were measured prospectively in 279 Caucasian women with invasive breast cancer, 204 women with early-stage disease and 75 women with locally advanced or metastatic disease.

Results: Patients with early-stage breast cancer had significantly higher circulating levels of 25(OH)D (p<0.005) and significantly lower PTH (p<0.001) levels than those with advanced disease. Calcium levels did not differ significantly (p = 0.74).

Conclusion: Serum levels of 25(OH)D are significantly higher in patients with early-stage breast cancer than in those with locally advanced or metastatic disease.

Footnotes

  • Published Online First 17 October 2006

  • Competing interests: None declared.

Responses to this article

  • Serum 25(OH)D levels in breast cancer patients with bone metastases
    • Christine E Simmons,
    • David E. C. Cole, George Dranitsaris, Mark J. Clemons
    J Clin Pathol published online February 19, 2007

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