Immunohistochemical expression of vitamin D receptor in melanocytic nevi and cutaneous melanoma. A case-control study

Abstract

Background

Vitamin D (VD) deficiency is associated with higher risk of cancer, possibly due to anti-proliferative, anti-angiogenic, pro-apoptotic, cell-differentiating and anti-invasive effects. The anti-carcinogenic role of VD in melanoma is still a matter of debate. Loss of nuclear and cytoplasmic vitamin D Receptor (VDR) expression in melanoma cells has been reported.

Objective

To analyze VDR immunohistochemical expression in benign dermal nevi (DN) and MM.

Methods

A case-control study evaluated nuclear and cytoplasmic VDR immunohistochemical staining in 54 DN and 55 MM tissue samples.

Results

There was a significantly higher cytoplasmic VDR-positivity in DN compared with MM (59% vs. 16%, P<0.0001). The mean VDR cytoplasmic expression was also higher in DN vs. MM (P<0.0001). No differences in nuclear VDR-positivity were observed between groups, but mean nuclear VDR expression was significantly lower in DN vs. MM (P=0.02). The loss of cytoplasmic VDR in MM was associated with Clark level, Tumor staging and pTNM AJCC staging (P=0.004, P=0.009 and P=0.02, respectively).

Conclusion

Alterations in VDR expression and localization are found in MM compared with DN. Loss of cytoplasmic VDR was associated with melanoma tumor size, suggesting that loss of cytoplasmic VDR may be a prognostic factor.

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