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Published on: June 9, 2023
Vitamin D Status and VDR Polymorphisms as Prognostic Factors in Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma
Andra-Maria Cocolos1, Andrei Muresan2, Andra Caragheorgheopol2
1"Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania; andra_buruiana@yahoo.com.
Background/Aim:
Vitamin D deficiency and vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms are involved in a variety of biological processes including cell proliferation, apoptosis, and adhesion in malignant tumors. This study investigated whether vitamin D levels and genetic variations of VDR are risk factors for thyroid cancer.
Patients And Methods:
Patients who underwent surgery for differentiated thyroid carcinoma (n=113) and those with benign thyroid pathology (n=150) were genotyped for VDR gene polymorphisms (ApaI, TaqI, FokI, and BsmI) and their 25(OH)D levels were simultaneously measured. Demographic data and histopathologic reports were also acquired for all patients.
Results:
Vitamin D levels were significantly lower in the thyroid cancer group (p=0.03). FokI and TaqI polymorphisms were more frequent in the thyroid cancer patients (p<0.001). Compared to control, the proportion of the FokI Ff genotype was increased (p<0.0006) and the proportion of the TaqI Tt genotype was also higher among patients with thyroid cancer (p<0.0001). The Ff genotype of FokI was also associated with multifocality, invasive pattern, and risk for local metastasis.
Conclusion:
The VDR gene polymorphism FokI may be associated with the risk of thyroid cancer and its more aggressive forms.
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