Association of genetic variants of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) with cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) and basal cell carcinomas (BCC): a pilot study in a German population.

Background: Vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphisms have important implications for vitamin D signalling and are associated with various malignancies.

Patients And Methods: In a German population, the frequency of several VDR polymorphisms (Apa1, Taq1, Bgl1) in basal cell carcinomas (BCCs, n=90) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs, n=100) as compared to healthy controls (n=51) was analyzed.

Results: Impressive variations in the frequency of some VDR genotypes were found when comparing skin of cancer patients and controls.