USA: Findings from a meta-analysis suggest the importance of identifying vitamin D insufficiency for evaluating and treating patients at a higher risk of developing cutaneous melanoma (CM).
The researchers, in their study published in Melanoma Research, identified an association between increased incidence of cutaneous melanoma and vitamin D insufficiency. They also observed less favourable Breslow tumour depth with lower vitamin D levels and the presence of vitamin D insufficiency.

The study showed that a vitamin D level <20 ng/dL was linked with an increased incidence of cutaneous melanoma (RR, 1.45). A vitamin D level >20 ng/dL was correlated with Breslow depth <1 mm and a lower vitamin D level was associated with Breslow depth >1 mm.
Cutaneous melanoma is the deadliest skin cancer, and vitamin D insufficiency has been indicated as a risk factor. Richard A Shellenberger, Trinity Health Ann Arbor Hospital, Ann Arbor, Michigan, and colleagues sought to explore the relationship between both vitamin D insufficiency and 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels with the incidence and stage of CM in a systematic review and meta-analysis.
For this purpose, the researchers searched five databases from inception until 11 July 2022. Case-control and cohort studies that reported mean 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels or the presence of vitamin D insufficiency in CM patients and compared with healthy controls; or those that reported vitamin D insufficiency and Breslow tumour depth or the development of metastasis in CM were included. A total of fourteen studies were included in the analysis.
The authors reported the following findings:
Statistically significant relationships were found between vitamin D level <20 ng/dl and incidence of CM [pooled RR 1.45; lower mean vitamin D level and Breslow depth >1 mm (SMD 0.19); and vitamin D level >20 ng/dl and Breslow depth <1 mm (pooled RR 0.69).
Statistical significance was not found in the relationships between vitamin D levels and the presence of metastasis (pooled SMD −0.13); or mean vitamin D level and the incidence of CM (pooled SMD −0.39).
"Identification of vitamin D insufficiency may be critical for evaluating and treating patients at a higher risk of developing CM," the researchers concluded.
Reference:
Shellenberger, Richard A.a; Gowda, Sunainaa; Kurn, Heidia; Albright, Jeremyb; Mayo, MacKenzie H.a. Vitamin D insufficiency and serum levels related to the incidence and stage of cutaneous melanoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Melanoma Research 33(4):p 265-274, August 2023. | DOI: 10.1097/CMR.0000000000000897