The Effect of Vitamin D on Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth most common cancer in terms of its incidence worldwide. The main causes of this type of cancer are Type II diabetes, obesity and alcohol. In this study, we aimed to determine the changes of both drug form and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin [1,25(OH)2D3] form of vitamin D which is effective in liver diseases, but the interaction of cellular mechanisms is still unknown, on characteristics of HePG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Both drug and 1,25(OH)2D3 form of vitamin D were applied separately to HepG2 cells and optimal concentrations and hours were determined. Then the proliferation, adhesion and immunohistochemically p53 amount of HepG2 cells were determined by the effects of both substances applied at the optimal concentration and hour. According to our obtained data, the optimal concentration and hour of each vitamin D substances was determined as 96th hour at 250 nM for drug form; 48th hour at 250 nM for 1,25(OH)2D3 form by observing the proliferation rates. It was determined that both drug and 1.25(OH)2D3 forms of vitamin D decreased adhesion of HepG2 cells statistically compared to the control group (p <0.001). When the changes in p53 amount of both vitamin D forms applied at optimal concentration and hour were examined immunohistochemically, it was observed that it decreased compared to control and sham groups. Our results provide preliminary data to ensure that vitamin D dose is maintained and controlled continuously when administered in hepatocellular cancer patients. Although it is an important vitamin to protect from some liver diseases; increasing proliferation in cancer cells, reducing adhesion and decreasing the amount of p53, a tumor suppressor, raises some questions about this subject. Furthermore, our results create a different perspective on the application of vitamin D on hepatocellular patients, and support important preliminary data for the studies to be conducted in the future