Clinical significance of serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D in breast cancer: An Indian scenario

Recent evidences suggest a protective mechanism of vitamin D signaling against breast cancer by the autocrine/paracrine manner and may modestly reduce the risk of breast cancer. Despite lots of sunshine, vitamin D deficiency is widespread in India. Moreover, there are limited studies from Indian population regarding circulatory 25(OH) D and breast cancer risk. Thus, the aim of the present study is to investigate circulatory 25(OH) D in relation to breast cancer risk and its association with various clinico-pathological parameters from Indian population. Total 297 subjects, comprising of 157 controls and 140 breast cancer patients were enrolled for the study. Circulatory 25(OH) D was analyzed by HPLC. Statistical analysis was carried out by SPSS software version 15. Further, subjects were categorized into severe, moderate, mild vitamin D deficiency and sufficiency. The prevalence of severe and moderate 25(OH) D deficiency was higher in breast cancer patients as compared to controls. Mean values of 25(OH) D were lower in breast cancer patients as compared to controls in mild, moderate and severe deficient groups (p = 0.07, p = 0.003 and p = 0.001). Moreover, 25(OH) D was significantly lower in postmenopausal breast cancer patients as compared to premenopausal breast cancer patients, particularly in severe deficient group. The levels of 25(OH) D were lower in ER and PR negative receptor status as compared to the positive receptor in severe deficient category (p = 0.06 and p = 0.09 respectively). Whereas, the mean values of 25(OH) D were lower in HER 2 negative receptor status as compared to positive receptor status in the moderate deficient category (p = 0.09). Further, severe deficient group showed significantly lower levels of 25(OH) Din TNBC as compared to luminal A subtype (p = 0.01). Thus, Results indicate that 25(OH) D deficiency might be associated with increased risk of breast cancer. Moreover, severe 25(OH) D deficiency is associated with aggressive behavior of breast cancer.