Prospective epidemiologic data suggests higher levels of vitamin D are associated with improved survival in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), however the relationship between 25(OH)D (vitamin D status) and outcome in metastatic CRC specifically is unknown. Researchers prospectively assessed the association between plasma 25(OH)D and overall survival (OS) in previously untreated metastatic CRC patients enrolled in CALGB 80505, a randomized phase III trial of chemotherapy + bevacizumab, cetuximab, or both, prior to the KRAS WT amendment. Among 1,043 patients, median plasma 25(OH)D was 17.2 ng/mL. Patients in the highest quintile of 25(OH)D had significantly improved overall survival (OS) compared to those in the lowest after adjusting for pathologic and clinical prognostic factors. Increasing concentrations of 25(OH)D were also associated with improved progression-free survival (PFS). Results were consistent across subgroups of patient characteristics, including KRAS status. The researchers concluded that higher concentrations of plasma 25(OH)D are associated with significantly improved survival in metastatic CRC patients treated with chemotherapy and biologics.
Kimmie, Ng, et al. Vitamin D status and survival of metastatic colorectal cancer patients: Results from CALGB/SWOG 80405 (Alliance). 2015 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. J Clin Oncol 33, 2015 (suppl 3; abstr 507)