Variant of vitamin D receptor gene linked to melanoma risk

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Public release date: 22-Sep-2008

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-09/acs-vov091708.php

Contact: Sampson

david.sampson@...

American Cancer Society

Variant of vitamin D receptor gene linked to melanoma risk

A new analysis indicates an association between a gene involved in

vitamin D metabolism and skin cancer. Published in the November 1, 2008

issue of CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society,

the study suggests that individuals with certain variants in a vitamin

D-related gene, called BsmI, may be at an increased risk of developing

melanoma.

Research has shown that vitamin D in the body has significant protective

effects against the development of cancer because it regulates cell

growth, cell differentiation and cell death. This is supported by

evidence that sun exposure, which helps in the production of vitamin D,

can have anticancer effects.

Vitamin D exerts its effects by binding to a receptor located within

cells. Because there are genetic differences in this vitamin D receptor

among individuals, investigators suspect that different people have

different levels of vitamin D activity within their bodies. Therefore,

some individuals may naturally be able to achieve more vitamin D-related

protection against cancer than others. However, study results on this

topic have been conflicting, and no review of the available data has

been performed to date.

To address this issue, Dr. Simone Mocellin and Dr. Donato Nitti of the

University of Padova in Italy examined the existing research

investigating the association between common variants in the vitamin D

receptor and the risk of melanoma. The analysis revealed a significant

association between melanoma risk and the BsmI gene.

The researchers note that additional research is needed to validate this

link, and called for well-designed, population-based, large,

multi-institutional studies to test whether any vitamin D receptor

variant is independently associated with melanoma risk.

" These findings prompt further investigation on this subject and

indirectly support the hypothesis that sun exposure might have an

anti-melanoma effect through activation of the vitamin D system, " the

authors wrote.

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Article: " Vitamin D Receptor Polymorphisms and the Risk of Cutaneous

Melanoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. " Simone Mocellin and

Donato Nitti. CANCER; Published Online: September 22, 2008 (DOI:

10.1002/cncr.23867); Print Issue Date: November 1, 2008.

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