Francisco Acevedo1, Victoria Pérez2, Alejandra Pérez-Sepúlveda1, Pablo Florenzano3, Rocío Artigas4, Lidia Medina1, César Sánchez5. 1. Hematology-Oncology Department, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Avda. Diagonal Paraguay 319, Santiago, Chile. 2. Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Avda. Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins 340, Santiago, Chile. 3. Endocrinology Department, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Avda. Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins 340, Santiago, Chile. 4. Center of Investigative and Translational Oncology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Avda. Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins 340, Santiago, Chile. 5. Hematology-Oncology Department, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Avda. Diagonal Paraguay 319, Santiago, Chile. Electronic address: csanchez@med.puc.cl.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC) is the leading cause of female death from malignancy worldwide. One factor that has been associated to a higher incidence and poor prognosis is a Vitamin D deficiency (measured as 25-Hydroxi-Vitamin D (25OHD)). Our aim was to determine 25OHD levels in serum samples of Chilean BC patients before endocrine therapy and its association to clinical parameters at the time of diagnosis. METHODS: We analyzed clinical records of 105 women, evaluated at the Cancer Center of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Serum levels of 25OHD were determined using a chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay. RESULTS: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency before endocrine therapy was of 70.5%. Only 7% of our patients showed sufficient vitamin D levels at the beginning of the endocrine treatment. There was a significant correlation found between age and 25OHD levels, and also between body fat percentage and 25OHD levels (r(2) = 0.04; p = 0.021; r(2) = 0.028; p = 0.0432, respectively). Summer 25OHD levels were significantly higher than winter levels (p = 0.0322). CONCLUSION: Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in Chilean BC women before endocrine therapy and 25OHD levels are inversely correlated to the age and body fat percentage of patients. Further studies are needed to determine causal relationship between vitamin D levels and BC development and outcome.
BACKGROUND:Breast cancer (BC) is the leading cause of female death from malignancy worldwide. One factor that has been associated to a higher incidence and poor prognosis is a Vitamin D deficiency (measured as 25-Hydroxi-Vitamin D (25OHD)). Our aim was to determine 25OHD levels in serum samples of Chilean BC patients before endocrine therapy and its association to clinical parameters at the time of diagnosis. METHODS: We analyzed clinical records of 105 women, evaluated at the Cancer Center of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Serum levels of 25OHD were determined using a chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay. RESULTS: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency before endocrine therapy was of 70.5%. Only 7% of our patients showed sufficient vitamin D levels at the beginning of the endocrine treatment. There was a significant correlation found between age and 25OHD levels, and also between body fat percentage and 25OHD levels (r(2) = 0.04; p = 0.021; r(2) = 0.028; p = 0.0432, respectively). Summer 25OHD levels were significantly higher than winter levels (p = 0.0322). CONCLUSION:Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in Chilean BC women before endocrine therapy and 25OHD levels are inversely correlated to the age and body fat percentage of patients. Further studies are needed to determine causal relationship between vitamin D levels and BC development and outcome.