Consideration of possible effects of vitamin D on established cancer, with reference to malignant melanoma.

Epidemiological studies indicate that Vitamin D has a beneficial, inhibitory effect on cancer development and subsequent progression, including melanoma (MM), and favourable MM outcome has been reported as directly related to vitamin D status, assessed by serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D ) levels taken at diagnosis. It has been recommended that MM patients with deficient levels of 25(OH)D be given vitamin D . We examine possible beneficial or detrimental effects of treating established cancer with vitamin D .

Compromised vitamin D receptor signalling in malignant melanoma is associated with tumour progression and mitogen-activated protein kinase activity.

The aims of this study were to investigate, in cutaneous malignant melanoma (MM), the integrity of nuclear vitamin D receptor (VDR) signalling, as implied by VDR subcellular location; to investigate the relationship between VDR and tumour progression and the inhibitory effect on VDR by mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) overactivity. Archived tissue from 34 benign melanocytic naevi, 149 MMs and 44 matched metastases were stained by immunohistochemistry for VDR and a subset of primary MMs were stained for phosphorylated-extracellular signal-regulated kinase as a marker of MAPK activity. MM cell lines were investigated to show the subcellular location of VDR and cell viability in response to ligand±MAPK inhibitor.

The unfavorable effect of the A allele of the vitamin D receptor promoter polymorphism A-1012G has different mechanisms related to susceptibility and outcome of malignant melanoma.

The A allele of the A-1012G (rs4516035) vitamin D receptor (VDR) promoter polymorphism is associated with increased susceptibility and worsened outcome in malignant melanoma (MM). The A allele contains a GATA-3 binding site. There is a second polymorphism in the same promoter region, G-1520C (rs7139166), and there is potential for another GATA binding site in the G allele.

Evidence that oxidative stress is a risk factor for the development of squamous cell carcinoma in renal transplant patients.

Renal transplant patients are at a greatly increased risk of skin malignancy, particularly squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), a tumor closely associated with UV exposure. There is also significant interindividual skin cancer risk among transplant patients, with evidence suggesting that this derives from variation in response to oxidative stress. Our aim was to assess urinary 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG), by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, in renal transplant patients with and without SCC.

The development and characterization of an in vitro model of psoriasis.

In this study, the phenotype of psoriatic keratinocytes and fibroblasts in reconstructed skin models was compared to those constructed from normal cells. Characterization of this model by immunohistochemistry showed that classical markers of keratinocyte differentiation exhibited similar patterns of distribution in the psoriatic models to those derived from normal cells and generally reflected in vivo observations. Some crucial differences, however, were observed between normal and psoriatic models when pro-inflammatory gene expression and keratinocyte proliferation were investigated.

Quantification of UVR-induced DNA damage: global- versus gene-specific levels of thymine dimers.

The induction and repair of DNA damage has been shown to occur heterogeneously throughout the mammalian genome. As a consequence, analysis of these parameters at a global genome level may not reflect important gene-level events. Few techniques have been established to explore quantitatively gene-specific DNA damage and repair.

Association between functional polymorphism in EGF gene and malignant melanoma.

Background: Malignant melanoma, the most serious cutaneous malignancy, has attracted substantial attention because of its rapidly increasing incidence and the poor prognosis of some tumours. Little is known of the genetic factors that mediate susceptibility to, and outcome of, sporadic malignant melanoma. Because of its role in mitogenesis, which is especially relevant to wound healing, tumorigenesis, and proliferation of epidermal tissues, epidermal growth factor (EGF) is an attractive candidate in which to look for genetic polymorphisms.