Determination of vitamin D levels in meningioma and glioma cases

Vitamin D is a hormon playing important roles in calcium metabolism and bone development. Recent studies have indicated that vitamin D also is an important factor in several cell functions such as proliferation, differentiation, and survival. Nevertheless, it has been considered as a potential candidate as an anti-cancer agent having roles in various cancer types. Therefore, in this study, the relationship was investigated between serum circulating 25(OH)D3 levels and meningioma and glioma that represent almost 70% of all central nervous system tumors. Serum 25(OH)D3 levels were detected in 83 meningioma, 105 glioma and 193 control serum samples via LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry). Mean/median levels of 25(OH)D3 in meningioma, glioma and control samples were found as 13-11 ng/ml, 15-12 ng/ml and 18-15 ng/ml, respectively. 26 sub-groups were constructed based on tumor type, grade and sex. Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric ANOVA test was used in statistical analyses. According to the results, both patient and control cohorts have a moderate vitamin D deficiency. In both patient and control groups 25(OH)D3 levels were much higher in men as compared to women. This has resulted in a need for using a unique control group for each patient cohort comprising the similar numbers of men and women. As a result, 25(OH)D3 concentrations were determined for meningioma, meningioma control, glioma, and glioma control groups as 11, 15, 12, and 17 ng/ml, respectively. This means that meningiom group revealed 26% and glioma group 30% less serum 25(OH)D3 than that of corresponding control groups. These differences were determined to be statistically significant (p<0.05). The difference between meningioma and glioma however were found not to be statistically significant. In conclusion, if the results of the previous studies are considered that there are a number of molecules having roles in pathways that are also affected by vitamin D metabolism and that this study revealed a lower 25(OH)D3 levels in patient cohorts, if these results can be validated by larger grouped studies, vitamin D may become a supplement in the treatment of these diseases.