TY - JOUR T1 - Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels in Patients with Vulvar Cancer JF - Anticancer Research JO - Anticancer Res SP - 265 LP - 270 VL - 32 IS - 1 AU - DARIUS SALEHIN AU - CHRISTINA HAUGK AU - MARC THILL AU - TIM CORDES AU - DANIELA HORNUNG AU - ANDRE ABU-HECHLE AU - BERNHARD HEMMERLEIN AU - MICHAEL FRIEDRICH Y1 - 2012/01/01 UR - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/32/1/265.abstract N2 - Background: The anticarcinogenic potential of vitamin D 25(OH)D has been attributed to the inhibition of proliferation of cells from different carcinomas. Reduced serum levels of 25(OH)D are associated with an increased incidence of various types of cancer. The influence of serum 25(OH)D on the incidence and outcome of patients with vulvar cancer is unknown. Patients and Methods: The serum 25(OH)D levels in 24 patients with vulvar cancer and 24 age-matched cancer-free patients was investigated. The blood samples were collected between October 2009 and September 2010 and time of blood collection of each patient and control was matched to avoid seasonal variations between the pairs. Results: The median 25(OH)D serum levels in the under 50 year old group of patients were significantly lower in the vulvar cancer group than the controls. The younger cancer group also had an age-related trend of lower median serum level than the older population. In the control population the trend was viceversa, yet this finding was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Serum 25(OH)D has a possible role in the pathogenesis and progression of vulvar cancer, but further investigations of the association of vitamin D and vulvar cancer as well as regarding its influence on patient survival and quality of life are warranted in the future. ER -