Vitamina D e Melanoma

Vitamin D plays an important role in calcium homeostasis and bone metabolism. Recently, vitamin D was shown to play an important part in cancer pathology and, more specifically, in melanoma. Seric deficiency of 25(OD)D3, active precursor of vitamin D, has been linked to higher incidence and poorer melanoma prognosis. In vitro studies of several tumors showed that vitamin D supplementation has anti-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic properties, induces differentiation, inhibits proliferation and sensitizes tumoral cells to anti-tumoral therapies. Also, the modulation of the expression of vitamin D receptors (VSR) seems to be implied on vitamin D anti-tumoral effect. The relationship between vitamin D and melanoma becomes more controversial when vitamin D synthesis through UV radiation is associated with increased melanoma risk. In this article we review present bibliography and present clinical suggestions concerning solar exposure, seric blood levels of vitamin D and reduction of melanoma incidence and prognosis.