Epigenomic effects of vitamin D in colorectal cancer

Abstract

Vitamin D regulates a plethora of physiological processes in the human body and has been proposed to exert several anticancer effects. Epigenetics plays an important role in regulating vitamin D actions. In this review, we highlight the recent advances in the understanding of different epigenetic factors such as lncRNAs, miRNAs, methylation and acetylation influenced by vitamin D and its downstream targets in colorectal cancer to find more potential therapeutic targets. We discuss how vitamin D exerts anticancer properties through interactions between the vitamin D receptor and genes (e.g., SLC30A10), the microenvironment, microbiota and other factors in colorectal cancer. Developing therapeutic approaches targeting the vitamin D signaling system will be aided by a better knowledge of the epigenetic impact of vitamin D.

Graphical abstract

Plain language summary

Vitamin D regulates various physiological processes in the body and could have anticancer effects. These anticancer effects are the result of interactions between many factors such as genes, the environment around the tumors, bacteria in the intestine, etc. in colorectal cancer. Epigenetic factors, including a big network of different molecules in the body that could control our genes without changing DNA, also play a role in regulating vitamin D. This review summarizes the advances in the understanding of different epigenetic factors related to vitamin D and colorectal cancer.

Tweetable abstract

The present review describes the role of Vitamin D and epigenetic factors in tumorigenesis and their roles as potential targets for #ColorectalCancer treatment.

Keywords::

• chromatin remodeling
• colorectal cancer
• DNA methylation
• epigenetic
• histone modification
• lncRNA
• noncoding RNA

Supplementary data

To view the supplementary data that accompany this paper please visit the journal website at: www.tandfonline.com/doi/suppl/10.2217/epi-2022-0288

Author contributions

R Khayami and MA Kerachian wrote the initial draft of the manuscript. D Goltzman, SA Rabbani and MA Kerachian revised it to its final version.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was supported by grants from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (grant nos. PJT-152963 and PJT-156225) to D Goltzman and SA Rabbani. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by grants from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (grant nos. PJT-152963 and PJT-156225) to D Goltzman and SA Rabbani. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.