Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 17, 2026
Studying Triple Negative Breast Cancer Using Orthotopic Breast Cancer Model
Published on: March 20, 2020
Vitamin D effect on growth and vitamin D metabolizing enzymes in triple-negative breast cancer
Sarah E Richards1, Kaytie A Weierstahl1, Jessica L Kelts2
1University of Michigan-Flint, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Flint, MI, U.S.A.
Background:
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive form of breast cancer that disproportionately affects women with darker skin. Epidemiological studies indicate that higher vitamin D levels prevent incidence of TNBC and translate to higher survival rates in those that have TNBC.
Materials And Methods:
The growth inhibition effects of two forms of vitamin D were assessed in MCF-7 and three TNBC lines using CellTiter-Glo. Expression of vitamin D-metabolizing enzymes was measured after vitamin D treatment by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).
Results:
MCF-7 was growth inhibited by vitamin D at high concentrations but the TNBC lines were not. All cell lines demonstrated large increases in CYP24A1 mRNA levels under vitamin D treatment but there was little change in CYP27B1 or VDR mRNA levels.
Conclusion:
These TNBC cell lines are resistant to growth inhibition by vitamin D. This could be due to large inactivation of vitamin D by CYP24A1 or by another mechanism.
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