World J Oncol

World Journal of Oncology, ISSN 1920-4531 print, 1920-454X online, Open Access

Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, World J Oncol and Elmer Press Inc

Journal website https://www.wjon.org

Original Article

Volume 14, Number 1, February 2023, pages 67-74

Association Between Expression of Vitamin D Receptor and Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 Receptor Among Breast Cancer Patients

Figure 1. Immunohistochemical assessment of VDR expression in paraffin-embedded breast cancer tissues. Microscopic images showing various degrees of intensity: (a) mild, (b) moderate, and (c) strong VDR expression. Images were captured at × 400 magnification, with a scale bar representing 100 µm.

Figure 2. Signaling mechanism for IGF1R and VDR in a cancer cell. Both pathways involve PI3K/AKT pathway to localize to nucleus and act as transcription factors for genes involved in cell proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis. VDR: vitamin D receptor; IGFIR: insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor; VitD: vitamin D.

**Table 1.** Demographic and Clinicopathological Characteristics of the Patients
Patient characteristics	Subgroup	Total (n = 48), frequency (%)
^aInformation on serum Vitamin D levels were available only for 33 patients. BMI: body mass index; TNM: tumor, node, metastasis; SD: standard deviation.
Age, years	Mean ± SD	52.4 ± 13.5
	Range	30 - 88
BMI, kg/m²	Mean ± SD	30.4 ± 6
	Range	19.7 - 42.8
Tumor size, cm	Mean ± SD	2.9 ± 1.9
	Range	0.6 - 10.5
TNM staging	Stage 0	1 (2.1%)
	Stage 1	8 (16.7%)
	Stage 2	23 (47.9%)
	Stage 3	12 (25%)
	Stage 4	4 (8.3%)
Molecular subtype	Luminal A	12 (25%)
	Luminal B/Her2 negative	14 (29.2%)
	Luminal B/Her2 positive	11 (22.9%)
	Her2 over-expression	2 (4.2%)
	Triple negative	9 (18.8%)
Lymphovascular invasion	Present	17 (35.4%)
	Absent	31 (64.6%)
Ki67	< 14%	13 (27.1%)
	≥ 14%	35 (72.9%)
Nottingham grade	Grade 1	5 (10.4%)
	Grade 2	18 (37.5%)
	Grade 3	24 (50%)
Vitamin D; ng/mL^a	Mean ± SD	15.4 ± 8.3
	Range	2 - 38

Table 1. Demographic and Clinicopathological Characteristics of the Patients

Patient characteristics

Subgroup

Total (n = 48), frequency (%)

^aInformation on serum Vitamin D levels were available only for 33 patients. BMI: body mass index; TNM: tumor, node, metastasis; SD: standard deviation.

Age, years

Mean ± SD

52.4 ± 13.5

Range

30 - 88

BMI, kg/m²

Mean ± SD

30.4 ± 6

Range

19.7 - 42.8

Tumor size, cm

Mean ± SD

2.9 ± 1.9

Range

0.6 - 10.5

TNM staging

Stage 0

1 (2.1%)

Stage 1

8 (16.7%)

Stage 2

23 (47.9%)

Stage 3

12 (25%)

Stage 4

4 (8.3%)

Molecular subtype

Luminal A

12 (25%)

Luminal B/Her2 negative

14 (29.2%)

Luminal B/Her2 positive

11 (22.9%)

Her2 over-expression

2 (4.2%)

Triple negative

9 (18.8%)

Lymphovascular invasion

Present

17 (35.4%)

Absent

31 (64.6%)

Ki67

< 14%

13 (27.1%)

≥ 14%

35 (72.9%)

Nottingham grade

Grade 1

5 (10.4%)

Grade 2

18 (37.5%)

Grade 3

24 (50%)

Vitamin D; ng/mL^a

Mean ± SD

15.4 ± 8.3

Range

2 - 38

**Table 2.** Association of Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) Intensity With Different Molecular Markers
	VDR expression intensity; n (%)
*P < 0.05. TNM: tumor, node, metastasis; IGFIR: insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor.
IGF1R intensity	Negative	3 (6.2)	0 (0)	0.031*
	Weak	0 (0)	3 (6.2)
	Moderate	10 (20.8)	8 (16.7)
	Strong	8 (16.7)	16 (33.3)
Molecular subtype	Luminal A	7 (14.6)	5 (10.4)	0.847
	Luminal B/Her2 negative	5 (10.4)	9 (18.7)
	Luminal B/Her2 positive	4 (8.3)	7 (14.6)
	Her2 over-expression	1 (2.1)	1 (2.1)
	Triple negative	4 (8.3)	5 (10.4)
Estrogen receptor	Present	15 (31.2)	21 (43.7)	0.431
	Absent	6 (12.5)	6 (12.5)
Progesterone receptor	Present	16 (33.3)	19 (39.6)	0.454
	Absent	5 (10.4)	8 (16.7)
HER2	Present	5 (10.4)	8 (16.7)	0.454
	Absent	16 (33.3)	19 (39.6)
TNM staging	Stage 0	0 (0)	1 (2.1)	0.312
	Stage 1	6 (12.5)	2 (4.2)
	Stage 2	10 (20.8)	12 (25)
	Stage 3	4 (8.3)	8 (16.7)
	Stage 4	1 (2.1)	3 (6.2)
Nottingham grade	Grade 1	4 (8.3)	1 (2.1)	0.145
	Grade 2	9 (18.7)	9 (18.7)
	Grade 3	8 (16.7)	16 (33.3)
Ki67	< 14%	8 (16.7)	5 (10.4)	0.118
	≥ 14%	13 (27.1)	22 (45.8)

Table 2. Association of Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) Intensity With Different Molecular Markers

VDR expression intensity; n (%)

Weak

Strong

P value

*P < 0.05. TNM: tumor, node, metastasis; IGFIR: insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor.

IGF1R intensity

Negative

3 (6.2)

0 (0)

0.031*

Weak

0 (0)

3 (6.2)

Moderate

10 (20.8)

8 (16.7)

Strong

8 (16.7)

16 (33.3)

Molecular subtype

Luminal A

7 (14.6)

5 (10.4)

0.847

Luminal B/Her2 negative

5 (10.4)

9 (18.7)

Luminal B/Her2 positive

4 (8.3)

7 (14.6)

Her2 over-expression

1 (2.1)

Triple negative

4 (8.3)

5 (10.4)

Estrogen receptor

Present

15 (31.2)

21 (43.7)

0.431

Absent

6 (12.5)

Progesterone receptor

Present

16 (33.3)

19 (39.6)

0.454

Absent

5 (10.4)

8 (16.7)

HER2

Present

5 (10.4)

8 (16.7)

0.454

Absent

16 (33.3)

19 (39.6)

TNM staging

Stage 0

0 (0)

1 (2.1)

0.312

Stage 1

6 (12.5)

2 (4.2)

Stage 2

10 (20.8)

12 (25)

Stage 3

4 (8.3)

8 (16.7)

Stage 4

1 (2.1)

3 (6.2)

Nottingham grade

Grade 1

4 (8.3)

1 (2.1)

0.145

Grade 2

9 (18.7)

Grade 3

8 (16.7)

16 (33.3)

Ki67

< 14%

8 (16.7)

5 (10.4)

0.118

≥ 14%

13 (27.1)

22 (45.8)