Vitamin D Receptor Signaling and Cancer

The vitamin D receptor (VDR) binds the secosteroid hormone 1,25(OH)(2)D-3 with high affinity and regulates gene programs that control serum calcium levels, as well as cell proliferation and differentiation. A significant focus has been to exploit the VDR in cancer settings. Although preclinical studies have been strongly encouraging, to date clinical trials have delivered equivocal findings that have paused the clinical translation of these compounds. However, it is entirely possible that mining of genomic data will help define precisely what the key anticancer actions of vitamin D compounds are and where these can be used most effectively.