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Vitamin D status is associated with disease-free survival and overall survival time in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract

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Abstract

Considerable clinical and experimental data suggest that vitamin D plays a role in pathogenesis and progression of cancer; nevertheless clinical data for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are not available. The aim of our study was to associate tumor and clinical characteristics with status of vitamin D [25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D)]. 88 patients with newly diagnosed squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were included in the study. A blood draw was taken at the time of diagnosis. The observation period lasted from 2006 until 2010. Results: When compared to a cohort from an epidemiological study, serum levels of 25(OH)D were significantly reduced in patients with HNSCC. We furthermore found disease-free survival, as well as overall survival times to be significantly associated with 25(OH)D levels. In conclusion, results from our study suggest an influence of vitamin D status on cancer incidence, as well as on mortality of HNSCC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Phoniatrics, ENT University Hospital Graz, Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 26-28, 8036, Graz, Austria

    Markus Gugatschka, Karl Kiesler & Gerhard Friedrich

  2. Division of Endocrinology and Nuclear Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria

    Barbara Obermayer-Pietsch

  3. Unit of Biostatistics, Center for Medical Research, Medical University, Graz, Austria

    Andrea Groselj-Strele & Antonia Griesbacher

Authors
  1. Markus Gugatschka
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  2. Karl Kiesler
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  3. Barbara Obermayer-Pietsch
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  4. Andrea Groselj-Strele
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  5. Antonia Griesbacher
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  6. Gerhard Friedrich
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Correspondence to Markus Gugatschka.

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Gugatschka, M., Kiesler, K., Obermayer-Pietsch, B. et al. Vitamin D status is associated with disease-free survival and overall survival time in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 268, 1201–1204 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-010-1481-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-010-1481-y

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