According to scientists from the Poznań University of Medical Sciences, maintaining the correct vitamin D levels may be important in the immunological treatment of advanced skin cancer - melanoma. They published the results of their research in the journal Cancer.
Vitamin D affects the body in various ways, including the regulation of the immune system, the researchers explain.
The team from Poznań analysed the blood of 200 patients treated with checkpoint inhibitors. Vitamin D levels were measured before treatment and every 12 weeks during treatment.
In the group with normal vitamin D levels, 56 percent responded positively to the therapy. patients, and among patients with low levels - only 36 percent.
In the first group, it was possible to stop the development of the disease for an average of over 11 months, and in the second group for a much shorter period of less than 6 months.
'Of course, vitamin D itself is not an anticancer drug, but its proper plasma concentration is needed for the proper functioning of the immune system, including the response to anticancer drugs such as immune checkpoint inhibitors', says the first author of the study, Dr. Łukasz Galus.
'In our opinion, once these results have been adequately confirmed by randomised trials, vitamin D assessment and supplementation should be considered in the treatment of melanoma', he adds.
Find out more HERE. (PAP)
Marek Matacz
mat/ agt/ kap/
tr. RL
