Title:Possible Molecular Mechanisms by which Vitamin D Prevents Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Colitis-associated Colorectal Cancer
VOLUME: 24 ISSUE: 9
Author(s):Zijian Luan, Yiming Ma, Yu Xin, Jiaming Qian* and Hongying Wang*
Affiliation:Department of Gastroenterology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, The State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, Department of Gastroenterology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, Department of Gastroenterology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, The State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing
Keywords:Vitamin D, IBD, colitis-associated colorectal cancer, inflammation, NF-κ B, EMT, cancer stem cell.
Abstract:It is well accepted that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis
and Crohn’s disease, is one of high risk factors for colorectal cancer (CRC). This supports
the notion that inflammation plays a key role in cancer development. Epidemiologic studies
have shown that vitamin D (Vit D) deficiency is associated with IBD and various types of
cancer including colorectal cancer. Clinical trials and mouse models have shown that Vit D is
beneficial in preventing or ameliorating inflammation and carcinogenesis. Mechanism studies
show that Vit D played wide-spectrum roles in anti-inflammation, immunoregulation, and
anti-cancer activities. In this review, we summarized and updated the findings on Vit D, IBD
and colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC) with the emphasis on the effects of Vit D on
anti-inflammation, EMT and cancer stem cells (CSC).