Researchers at Henry Ford and Wayne State University claim that a deficiency of vitamin D may cause basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer
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Dr Iltefat Hamzavi, senior staff physician in Henry Ford's Department of Dermatology and the study's lead author stated, "This finding may help us in future research to determine whether vitamin D plays a causative or reactive role in the development and progression of skin cancer.”
Details of the study
In an effort to evaluate the role of vitamin D in basal cell carcinoma, the researchers enrolled 10 patients diagnosed with the disease. All the participants were aged 43 to 83 years.
The investigators conducted biopsies of the cancerous tissue along with that of the normal tissue surrounding the affected skin.
The results revealed a 10-fold increase in the levels of vitamin D and a two-fold increase in the levels of vitamin D protein. Both the enzymes and proteins play a vital role in regulating the levels of Vitamin D in the skin.
Additionally, the researchers noted that the two genes important for DNA and tumor repair also had high levels of vitamin D in the cancerous tissue as opposed to the normal tissue.
The research was sponsored by the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery, Wayne State University and Henry Ford Hospital.
The study will be presented at the Photomedicine Society's annual meeting in Miami, one day before the American Academy of Dermatology's annual meeting.
A little about basal cell carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer, a disease in which the cancer cells resemble the basal cells of the epidermis, the outer layer of the skin.
It appears like a classic "sore that doesn't heal." Though most basal cell carcinomas are found on the face and neck where the skin is exposed to sunlight sometimes they may occur in areas exposed to little or no sunlight like the abdomen, leg, and scalp.
Small basal cell carcinomas can be removed by being scraped and burned (electrodesiccation and curettage).
However, the larger ones can be removed only by surgery. Basal cell carcinomas on the scalp, ears, and sides of the nose, as well as those which recur are best treated by Mohs surgery.
The best preventive measure against the ailment is precaution against too much sun exposure and annual skin checkups by the dermatologist.
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