Abstract
Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with increased risks of prostate cancer. Nevertheless, the mechanisms remain unclear. The aim of this study was to analyze the association among prostate cancer, vitamin D status and inflammation. Sixty patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer and 120 age-matched controls were recruited for this study. Vitamin D status was evaluated and serum inflammatory molecules were measured. Serum 25-(OH)D was lower in patients with prostate cancer. Moreover, serum 25(OH)D was lower in patients with severe prostate cancer than patients with mild and moderate prostate cancer. By contrast, serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin (IL)-8, two inflammatory molecules, were elevated in patients with prostate cancer. Serum 25-(OH)D was negatively correlated with serum CRP and IL-8 in patients with prostate cancer. Additional analysis showed that the percentage of vitamin D receptor positive nucleus in the prostate was reduced in patients with prostate cancer. By contrast, the percentage of nuclear factor kappa B p65-positive nucleus was elevated in patients with prostate cancer. Our results provide evidence that there is an association among prostate cancer, vitamin D deficiency and inflammatory signaling. Inflammation may be an important mediator for prostate cancer progression in patients with low vitamin D status.
Highlights
In Western countries, prostate cancer is the most common malignant tumor in men and a major cause of cancer deaths [1]
These results provide evidence for the first time that low vitamin D status is associated with inflammation in patients with prostate cancer
A recent study showed that elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) level was associated with poor prognosis in prostate cancer patients treated with radiotherapy [30]
Summary
In Western countries, prostate cancer is the most common malignant tumor in men and a major cause of cancer deaths [1]. The incidence of prostate cancer differs between countries due to coverage of prostatespecific antigen (PSA) screening [2]. In China, the incidence of prostate cancer is rapidly increasing and especially in patients with obesity or diabetes [3, 4]. As androgen receptor (AR) signaling is a key pathway for the pathogenesis of prostate cancer, androgen-deprivation therapy remains the principal method for patients with locally advanced and metastatic prostate cancer [5]. The majority of patients with advancedstage or metastatic cancer will progress to castration-resistant prostate cancer [6]. Increasing evidence demonstrates that inflammation plays important roles in the pathogenesis of progression to castration-resistant prostate cancer [8]
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