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Review
. 2023 Oct 11;24(20):15058.
doi: 10.3390/ijms242015058.

The Magic Triangle in Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders: Vitamin D, Vitamin D Receptor, and Malignancy

Aya Khamis  1   2   3 , Lara Salzer  1 , Eik Schiegnitz  2 , Roland H Stauber  1 , Désirée Gül  1
Affiliations
Review

The Magic Triangle in Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders: Vitamin D, Vitamin D Receptor, and Malignancy

Aya Khamis et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

OPMDs (oral potentially malignant disorders) are a group of disorders affecting the oral mucosa that are characterized by aberrant cell proliferation and a higher risk of malignant transformation. Vitamin D (VitD) and its receptor (VDR) have been extensively studied for their potential contributions to the prevention and therapeutic management of various diseases and neoplastic conditions, including oral cancer. Observational studies suggest correlations between VitD deficiency and higher cancer risk, worse prognosis, and increased mortality rates. Interestingly, emerging data also suggest a link between VitD insufficiency and the onset or progression of OPMDs. Understanding the role of the VitD-VDR axis not only in established oral tumors but also in OPMDs might thus enable early detection and prevention of malignant transformation. With this article, we want to provide an overview of current knowledge about OPMDs and VitD and investigate their potential association and ramifications for clinical management of OPMDs.

Keywords: OPMD; SCC; VitD; VitD receptor; premalignancy; red lesions; white lesions.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationship that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Overview of oral potentially malignant disorders. Histopathological illustration depicting various oral potentially malignant disorders and highlighting the potential sequelae of malignant transformation.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Vitamin D Metabolism. Schematic illustration representing the successive stages involved in VitD production and activation within the human body, as well as the metabolic pathways responsible for VitD utilization. Created with BioRender.com accessed on 30 September 2023.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Sequela of Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders (OPMDs) and the Influence of Vitamin D on Lesion Progression. Illustration depicting the potential consequences of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) and highlighting the biological functions of VitD that influence the progression of oral lesions. “+” indicates induction/enhancement, “−” indicates inhibition/decrease by VitD.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Flow Chart Depicting Vitamin D Supplementation Strategies for OPMD Treatment. Schematic representation illustrating various treatment modalities for OPMDs with respect to VitD supplementation. The treatments are categorized based on serum VitD levels following diagnosis. ‘Low’ indicates deficient or insufficient VitD levels, while ‘High’ signifies sufficient VitD status. Created with BioRender.com accessed on 30 September 2023.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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