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The Association Between Breast Cancer Prognostic Indicators and Serum 25-OH Vitamin D Levels

  • Breast Oncology
  • Published:
Annals of Surgical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Studies show that women with low vitamin D levels have an increased risk of breast cancer (BC) incidence and mortality, but there is a lack of research examining vitamin D levels and prognostic variables in BC patients. The aim of this study is to examine 25-OH vitamin D levels between BC cases and controls and by prognostic indicators among BC cases.

Methods

25-OH vitamin D levels were collected from 194 women who underwent BC surgery and 194 cancer-free (CF) controls at the University of Rochester between January 2009 and October 2010. Mean 25-OH vitamin D levels and odds ratios (OR) were calculated by case/control status for the overall cohort and by prognostic indicators (invasiveness, ER status, triple-negative status, Oncotype DX score, molecular phenotype) for BC cases.

Results

BC cases had significantly lower 25-OH vitamin D levels than CF controls (BC: 32.7 ng/mL vs. CF: 37.4 ng/mL; P = .02). In case-series analyses, women with suboptimal 25-OH vitamin D concentrations (<32 ng/mL) had significantly higher odds of having ER− (OR = 2.59, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 1.08–6.23) and triple-negative cancer (OR = 3.15, 95% CI = 1.05–9.49) than those with optimal 25-OH D concentrations. Women with basal-like phenotype had lower 25-OH vitamin D levels than women luminal A phenotype (basal-like: 24.2 ng/mL vs. luminal A: 32.8 ng/mL; P = 0.04).

Conclusions

BC patients with a more aggressive molecular phenotype (basal-like) and worse prognostic indicators (ER− and triple-negative) had lower mean 25-OH vitamin D levels. Further research is needed to elucidate the biological relationship between vitamin D and BC progression.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, NY, USA

    Luke J. Peppone PhD, MPH & Michelle C. Janelsins PhD

  2. Department of Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, NY, USA

    Aaron S. Rickles MD & Kristin A. Skinner MD

  3. Clinical Laboratory Services, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, NY, USA

    Michael R. Insalaco AS

Authors
  1. Luke J. Peppone PhD, MPH
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  2. Aaron S. Rickles MD
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  3. Michelle C. Janelsins PhD
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  4. Michael R. Insalaco AS
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  5. Kristin A. Skinner MD
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Correspondence to Luke J. Peppone PhD, MPH.

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Peppone, L.J., Rickles, A.S., Janelsins, M.C. et al. The Association Between Breast Cancer Prognostic Indicators and Serum 25-OH Vitamin D Levels. Ann Surg Oncol 19, 2590–2599 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-012-2297-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-012-2297-3

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