Journal des maladies et soins respiratoires cliniques : accès libre

Vitamin D Deficiency as a Risk Factor in Non-Squamous Lung Cancer Subgroups - A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Ahmet Bulent Kargi, Meltem Demir, Ezel Tasdemir, Aysegul Kargi

Background: It has been known that smoking is the primary causative factor of lung cancer, but other factors also play roles. Epidemiological studies demonstrate an increase of cancer in people lower exposure to sunlight and which has an impact in the synthesis of active 25(OH)D. The aim of study was to determinate the potential role of 25(OH)D etiologic factor in subtypes of lung cancer. Methods: There were 140 participants of which 100 were men (71.4%) and 40 (28.6%) were women. The study group was 60 lung cancer before any treatment participants (48 male, 12 female) and control group was 80 (52 male, 28 female). The study group was divided into three histologic subtypes; small cell lung cancer (SCLC) (13 pts, 21.7%), squamous cell lung cancer (SqCC) (18 pts, 30%) and non-squamous (23 adenocarcinoma, 6 others; total 29 pts, 48.3%). Results: There was significant difference between smoking and histologic subgroups (p<0.001). While the SCLC (p=0.002) and the SqCC (p<0.001) group had a significantly more pack/year smoking; no difference in non-squamous subgroup (p=0.114). 25(OH)D levels was significantly less in non-squamous cell subgroups (p<0.001). Smoking group has less 25(OH)D levels than non-smoker group significantly (p=0.006). Conclusion: Meanwhile smoking is a risk factor for SCLC and SqCC; in non-squamous subtype 25(OH)D deficiency could be a causative factor. Our findings may be supported with further studies including larger patient populations.