The intricate and diverse TME within breast cancer (BC) comprises a complex amalgamation of cell populations, encompassing immune cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, cancer stem cells and the extracellular matrix. These constituents have profound influence over tumor progression and metastasis. Vitamin D (VD) is increasingly recognized as a multifunctional hormone, with strong clinical and epidemiological evidence supporting its protective role against cancer, particularly BC. Although its anti-neoplastic effects in BC have been widely studied, few investigations have thoroughly explored its influence within the tumor microenvironment (TME). This review seeks to address that gap by clarifying the current understanding of VD’s regulatory functions in the TME of BC. The pivotal anti-cancer functions of VD comprise a spectrum of activities, influencing cell cycle regulation, chemoprotection, differentiation, apoptosis, proliferation, angiogenesis, as well as having anti-metastatic and anti-invasive properties. In this review, we comprehensively outline VD’s anti-cancer mechanisms within the context of the BC TME, meticulously detailing its regulatory impact on cancer-associated fibroblasts, adipocytes, immune cells, cancer stem cells, and the extracellular matrix. This unique perspective highlights the potential of using VD to re-program the TME and enhance the efficacy of current BC therapeutics.
乳腺癌（BC）内复杂多样的肿瘤微环境（TME）由多种细胞群组成，包括免疫细胞、癌症相关成纤维细胞、癌症干细胞以及细胞外基质。这些成分对肿瘤进展和转移具有深远影响。维生素D（VD）作为一种多功能激素日益受到关注，大量临床和流行病学证据支持其抗癌作用，尤其是在乳腺癌中。尽管VD在乳腺癌中的抗肿瘤效应已被广泛研究，但少有研究深入探讨其对肿瘤微环境的影响。本综述旨在填补这一空白，阐明目前对VD在乳腺癌TME中调控功能的认识。VD的关键抗癌功能涵盖多种活性，包括影响细胞周期调控、化学保护、分化、凋亡、增殖、血管生成，并具有抗转移和抗侵袭特性。本文全面概述了VD在乳腺癌TME中的抗癌机制，详细阐述了其对癌症相关成纤维细胞、脂肪细胞、免疫细胞、癌症干细胞及细胞外基质的调控作用。这一独特视角凸显了利用VD重塑TME并增强现有乳腺癌治疗效果的潜力。
The Effects of Vitamin D on the Breast Cancer Tumor Microenvironment
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家