Vitamin D and Vitamin D Analogs in Cancer Treatment

Authors: Van Den Bemd G.J.C.M.; Chang G.T.G.

Source: Current Drug Targets, Volume 3, Number 1, February 2002 , pp. 85-94(10)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

Abstract:

The secosteroid hormone 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3) is a key player in the regulation of bone mineralization and calcium homeostasis. In addition, 1,25-(OH)2D3 has antiproliferative and prodifferentiation effects on various cells in vitro and in vivo. The growth-inhibitory properties of 1,25-(OH)2D3 could be harnessed in the treatment of cancer. However, its use as an anti-cancer drug is limited because of the calcemic effects of pharmacological doses. In an attempt to dissociate the antiproliferative and calcemic effects, numerous vitamin D3 analogs were developed. The mechanisms by which 1,25-(OH)2D3 and 1,25-(OH)2D3 analogs exert their growth-inhibitory effects are not clear but include effects on cell differentiation, apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, metastases, and angiogenesis. In the current review aspects involved in the tumor suppressive activity of 1,25-(OH)2D3 and 1,25-(OH)2D3 analogs will be addressed. The use of vitamin D3 compounds, alone or in combination with other drugs, in cancer treatment and the potential drawbacks will also be discussed.

Keywords: Vitamin D Analogs; 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin; chemotherape utic agents; cyclopropylvitamin; 22-oxo-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin; 20-epi-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin; 1,25-dihydroxy-16,23Z-diene

Language: English

Document Type: Review article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1389450023348064

Publication date: 2002-02-01

• Current Drug Targets aims to cover the latest and most outstanding developments on the medicinal chemistry and pharmacology of molecular drug targets e.g. disease specific proteins, receptors, enzymes, genes. Each issue of the journal will be devoted to a single timely topic, with series of in-depth reviews, written by leaders in the field, covering a range of current topics on drug targets. These issues will be organized and led by a guest editor who is a recognized expert in the overall topic. As the discovery, identification, characterisation and validation of novel human drug targets for drug discovery continues to grow; this journal will be essential reading for all pharmaceutical scientists involved in drug discovery and development.

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