Research progress of vitamin D on prevention and treatment of pancreatic cancer
1 Zhang Pan, 2 Shang Cui, 3 Xu Yun
1
Department of Clinical Nutrition, Liangzhu Hospital, Yuhang District, Hangzhou 311112, Zhejiang, China; 2
Fengtai District Center for Disease
Control and Prevention, Beijing 100071, China; 3
Department of Ophtalmology, Liangzhu Hospital, Yuhang District, Hangzhou 311112,
Zhejiang, China
Abstract：Pancreatic cancer is a malignant tumor with high mortality, characterized by early metastasis, late diagnosis, and
therapeutic resistance, the radical resection rate is low and the prognosis is poor. At present, the first⁃line combined chemotherapy
regimen for pancreatic cancer is unsatisfactory, and the survival rates remain low, there is no cure or effective treatment for pancreatic
cancer. Therefore, it is urgent to develop effective intervention strategies. Studies have shown that vitamin D has a positive preventive
and therapeutic effect on the occurrence and development of various malignant tumors, vitamin D as a new target for prevention and
treatment of pancreatic cancer, has become one of the research hotspots in recent years. At present, the results show that vitamin D
and its analogues play positive roles in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, which can improve the prognosis and reduce the mortality.
To data, there is no sufficient evidence to support, high quality clinical studies are needed to explore vitamin D supplementation,
intervention time and combination therapy, providing sufficient evidence for the treatment and prevention of pancreatic cancer. In this
article, we reviewed the effects of vitamin D on the incidence and mortality of pancreatic cancer, while discussed the possible
mechanisms. The latest research progress of vitamin D and its analogues combined with chemotherapy/immunotherapy for pancreatic
cancer were summarized. Taken together, vitamin D and its analogues are cost⁃effective drugs, which have important value and broad
application prospects for the prevention and treatment of pancreatic cancer.
