Vitamin D-induced mechanisms in cancer prevention and therapy - Recent advances and future opportunities

Sep 23, 2026

Vitamin D, through diverse molecular pathways and immunomodulatory actions, is explored as a key option for preventing and treating multiple cancers. It regulates angiogenesis, apoptosis, differentiation, and cellular proliferation, while supporting immune surveillance, DNA repair, and tumor suppressor genes. Vitamin D signaling is described as influencing tumor growth and metastasis across cancer types via Wnt/β-catenin, NF-κB, PI3K/Akt, and p53 pathways, with emphasis on epigenetics, tumor microenvironment effects, and adjuvant synergy.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Mechanisms of Vitamin D (VDR signaling)

Vitamin D and cancer risk evidence

Therapeutic implications and future opportunities

Received: 20 May 2025 | Revised: 24 August 2025 | Accepted: 26 August 2025 | DOI: 10. 1002/ame2 .70087 | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | RE V I E W
| | | | | Vitamin D-induced mechanisms in cancer prevention and therapy: Recent advances and future opportunities
D. Prasanth1 | Pathan Amanulla Khan2 | Jamal-E-Fatima3 | Trupti Pratik Durgawale4 | Falak Arjumand Siddique5 | Sharuk L. Khan5 | Azmath Farhana6 |
Uttam Prasad Panigrahy7 | Mohammed Abdul Aziz shahid8 | Mohammed Sayeed9 | Md. Faysal10
1Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Odisha, India 2Department of Pharmacy Practice, Anwar ul Uloom College of Pharmacy, New Mallepally, Hyderabad, Telangana, India 3School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
4Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Krishna Institute of Pharmacy Krishna Vishwa Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Karad, Maharashtra, India
5Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, N. B. S Institute of Pharmacy, Ausa, India 6Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Anurag University, Venkatapur, India 7Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, Assam Down Town University, Guwahati, Assam, India
8 Department of Pharmacy Practice, Shadan Women's College of Pharmacy, Hyderabad, Telangana, India 9Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Anurag University, Venkatapur, Hyderabad, Telangana, India 10 Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh | | | | | Correspondence |
Abstract
Vitamin D, with its diverse molecular pathways and immunomodulatory properties, has become a crucial tool in the prevention and treatment of various cancers. It controls angiogenesis, apoptosis, differentiation, and cellular proliferation, inhibiting cancer through immune surveillance, DNA repair, and tumor suppression genes. Additionally, vitamin D signaling impacts tumor growth and metastasis in various cancer types by interacting with key oncogenic pathways like Wnt/β-catenin, NF-κB, PI3K/Akt, and p53 . This review demonstrates the molecular and therapeutic implications of vitamin D in oncology, focusing on its potential as a safe, adjuvant treatment method. It emphasizes the role of vitamin D in epigenetic modification, its impact on tumor microenvironment, and its synergistic benefits when combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors and chemotherapeutic drugs. Despite promising results, genetic variations in the VDR gene continue to cause issues with bioavailability, ideal dosage, and interindividual response variability. The review also proposes future research on vitamin D's potentiality as a therapeutic adjuvant in various malignancies, including colorectal, prostate, and breast cancers, and suggests the development of | | | | Pathan Amanulla Khan, Department | | | | | of Pharmacy Practice, Anwar ul Uloom | | | | | College of Pharmacy, New Mallepally, | | | | | Hyderabad, Telangana, India. | | | | | Email: [aman.pathan811@gmail.com](aman.pathan811@gmail.com) | | | | | Md. Faysal, Department of Pharmacy, | | | | | Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, | | | | | Daffodil International University, Dhaka | | | | | 1216, Bangladesh. | | | | | Email: [faysal29-760@diu.edu.bd](faysal29-760@diu.edu.bd) | | | | | | | | | | This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.
© 2025 The Author(s) . Animal Models and Experimental Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of The Chinese Association for Laboratory Animal Sciences. | | | | Anim Models Exp Med. 2025;8:1935–[1946.](1946. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/ame2 | 1

FAQs

How does vitamin D act to inhibit cancer according to the review?

The review states that vitamin D controls angiogenesis, apoptosis, differentiation, and proliferation, and contributes to cancer inhibition via immune surveillance, DNA repair, and tumor suppression genes.

Which molecular pathways are highlighted for vitamin D signaling in tumors?

Vitamin D signaling is described as interacting with Wnt/β-catenin, NF-κB, PI3K/Akt, and p53 pathways, affecting tumor growth and metastasis.

What challenges remain for using vitamin D as an adjuvant therapy?

The review notes that genetic variations in the VDR gene can affect bioavailability, ideal dosage, and individual response variability.

Sep 23, 2026

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