IPATIMUP - Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, Rua Dr Roberto Frias, s/n, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal.
Breast Cancer Res. 2012 May 31;14(3):211. doi: 10.1186/bcr3178.
Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease associated with diverse biological behaviours and clinical outcome. Although some molecular subgroups of breast cancer have a targeted therapy, the most aggressive tumours still lack a molecular target. Despite vitamin D being classically associated with the physiological role of calcium regulation and phosphate transport in bone metabolism, several studies have demonstrated a wide range of functions for this hormone, which are particularly important in the field of cancer. The mechanisms underlying the protective actions of vitamin D in cancer development are only sparsely understood, but evidence shows that vitamin D participates in cell growth regulation, apoptosis and cell differentiation. In addition, it has been implicated in the suppression of cancer cell invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis. Most of vitamin D biological actions are mediated by the vitamin D receptor and the synthesis and catabolism of this hormone are regulated by the enzymes CYP27B1 and CYP24A1. In the present review we highlight research data concerning the function of this hormone in the mammary gland, with a special focus on breast carcinogenesis. Hence, and although the available data are controversial, we consider not only updated information on the epidemiology of vitamin D in breast cancer and its potential value as a therapeutic agent or prophylactic (with an emphasis on molecular mechanisms and effectors of vitamin D action), but include data on its role in other stages of breast cancer progression as well. Accordingly, we review data on the influence of vitamin D in the development of normal breast and the expression of vitamin D-related proteins (VDR, CYP27B1 and CYP24A21) in benign mammary lesions and ductal carcinomas in situ.
乳腺癌是一种异质性疾病，与多种生物学行为和临床结局相关。尽管一些乳腺癌的分子亚群有靶向治疗，但最具侵袭性的肿瘤仍然缺乏分子靶点。尽管维生素 D 经典上与钙调节和磷转运在骨代谢中的生理作用有关，但许多研究已经证明了这种激素具有广泛的功能，这些功能在癌症领域尤为重要。维生素 D 在癌症发展中保护作用的机制还知之甚少，但有证据表明，维生素 D 参与细胞生长调节、细胞凋亡和细胞分化。此外，它还参与抑制癌细胞侵袭、血管生成和转移。维生素 D 的大部分生物学作用是由维生素 D 受体介导的，该激素的合成和分解代谢受 CYP27B1 和 CYP24A1 酶的调节。在本综述中，我们重点介绍了关于这种激素在乳腺中的功能的研究数据，特别关注乳腺癌的发生。因此，尽管现有数据存在争议，但我们不仅考虑了维生素 D 在乳腺癌中的流行病学及其作为治疗剂或预防剂的潜在价值的最新信息（重点是维生素 D 作用的分子机制和效应物），还包括了其在乳腺癌进展的其他阶段的作用的数据。因此，我们回顾了维生素 D 对正常乳腺发育的影响以及维生素 D 相关蛋白（VDR、CYP27B1 和 CYP24A21）在良性乳腺病变和导管原位癌中的表达数据。
