Circulating 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentration and Risk of Breast, Prostate, and Colorectal Cancers: The Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The role of vitamin D in cancer risk remains controversial, and limited data exist on associations between vitamin D and subtypes of specific cancers. We investigated associations between circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and risk of colorectal, breast, and prostate cancers, including subtypes.

METHODS:

A case-cohort study within the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study included 547 colorectal, 634 breast, and 824 prostate cancers, and a sex-stratified random sample of participants (n = 2,996). Concentration of 25(OH)D in baseline-dried blood spots was measured using LC-MS/MS. Cox regression yielded adjusted HRs and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for each cancer in relation to plasma-equivalent 25(OH)D concentration. Associations by stage and BRAF/KRAS status for colorectal cancer, estrogen receptor status for breast cancer, and aggressiveness for prostate cancer were examined in competing risks models.

RESULTS:

25(OH)D concentrations were inversely associated with risk of colorectal cancer [highest vs. lowest 25(OH)D quintile: HR, 0.71; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.51-0.98], which was limited to women (HR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.33-0.82). Circulating 25(OH)D was also inversely associated with BRAF V600E-positive colorectal cancer (per 25 nmol/L increment: HR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.50-1.01). There were no inverse associations with breast cancer (HR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.70-1.36) or prostate cancer (HR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.82-1.48).

CONCLUSIONS:

Circulating 25(OH)D concentration was inversely associated with colorectal cancer risk for women, but not with risk of breast cancer or prostate cancer.

IMPACT:

Vitamin D might play a role in preventing colorectal cancer. Further studies are required to confirm whether vitamin D is associated with specific tumor subtypes.

• Authors: Alicia K Heath, Allison M Hodge, Peter R Ebeling, Darryl W Eyles, David Kvaskoff, Daniel D Buchanan, Graham G Giles, Elizabeth J Williamson, Dallas R English
• Journal: Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev) Vol. 28 Issue 5 Pg. 900-908 (05 2019) ISSN: 1538-7755 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 30842127 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: ©2019 American Association for Cancer Research.

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor
• Vitamin D
• 25-hydroxyvitamin D

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Australia (epidemiology)
• Biomarkers, Tumor (blood)
• Breast Neoplasms (blood, epidemiology, etiology)
• Case-Control Studies
• Colorectal Neoplasms (blood, epidemiology, etiology)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Incidence
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prognosis
• Prospective Studies
• Prostatic Neoplasms (blood, epidemiology, etiology)
• Risk Factors
• Vitamin D (analogs & derivatives, blood)