부산대학교 도서관

Unlike in the west, breast cancer in India presents more than a decade earlier, predominantly in stage III, and with an unusually large percentage of poor-prognosis triple-negative subtype. Vitamin D deficiency prevails in epidemic proportions in India. Cross-sectional observational study to correlate serum vitamin D levels with molecular subtypes of breast cancer. In fifty breast cancer patients, core needle biopsy was used for receptor status and molecular subtyping. Serum vitamin D was documented prior to treatment. Serum vitamin D levels were correlated with molecular subtypes of breast cancer. The mean age was 45.68 years. None were in stage 1, while 48% were in stages 2 and 3 each. On biopsy, 90% were ductal carcinoma. The largest group of patients was triple negative (34%). In triple-negative subtype, majority (71%) were stage 3. Fifty percent of stage 3 patients were triple-negative subtype. The mean serum vitamin D levels were 15.78 SD 7.34 ng/ml. The lowest mean serum vitamin D levels were seen in triple-negative subtype, i.e., 11.49 SD 4.17. The difference was statistically significant among the subtypes. Vitamin D deficiency (present in 96% of our patients) has a significant association with triple-negative breast cancer (associated with worst prognosis), as compared to other molecular subtypes, suggesting vitamin D deficiency to be a likely significant risk factor for the development of breast cancer, particularly triple-negative subtype which is present in unusually large proportion in India. Identification of vitamin D deficiency as an important (and easily modifiable) risk factor for breast cancer could help define effective preventive strategies.
Author(s): Shaphali Chandra [sup.1], Shaji Thomas [sup.1], Anita Nangia [sup.1], Ritu Singh [sup.1], O. P. Pathania [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.415723.6, 0000 0004 1767 727X, Departments of Surgery, Pathology and [...]