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Immunohistochemical expression of vitamin D receptor in melanocytic naevi and cutaneous melanoma: a case–control study
Author(s) -
Puerto C.,
NavarreteDechent C.,
Molgó M.,
Camargo C.A.,
Borzutzky A.,
González S.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/bjd.16103
Subject(s) - calcitriol receptor , immunohistochemistry , vitamin d and neurology , melanoma , cytoplasm , cancer research , medicine , pathology , endocrinology , biology , microbiology and biotechnology
Summary Background Vitamin D deficiency is associated with higher risk of cancer, possibly due to its antiproliferative, antiangiogenic, proapoptotic, cell‐differentiating and anti‐invasive effects. The anticarcinogenic role of vitamin D in melanoma is still a matter of debate. Loss of nuclear and cytoplasmic vitamin D receptor ( VDR ) expression in melanoma cells has been reported. Objectives To analyse VDR immunohistochemical expression in benign dermal naevi ( DN ) and malignant melanoma ( MM ). Methods A case–control study evaluated nuclear and cytoplasmic VDR immunohistochemical staining in 54 DN and 55 MM tissue samples. Results There was significantly higher cytoplasmic VDR positivity in DN compared with MM (59% vs. 16%, P < 0·001). The mean VDR cytoplasmic expression was also higher in DN vs. MM ( P < 0·001). 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, tumour staging and American Joint Committee on Cancer pTNM staging ( P =0·004, 0·009 and 0·02, respectively). Conclusions Alterations in VDR expression and localization are found in MM compared with DN . Loss of cytoplasmic VDR was associated with melanoma tumour size, suggesting that loss of cytoplasmic VDR may be a prognostic factor.