Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels are associated with prognosis in hematological malignancies

It has been proposed that Vitamin D has a significant influence on disease progression in malignancy. This study aims to investigate whether serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH) D] are associated with prognosis in patients with hematological malignancies. This study is based on 105 patients with hematological disease (acute and chronic leukemias, myelodysplastic syndromes, monoclonal gamma-pathies, and chronic lymphoid disorders), seen over a 6-months period. 25(OH) D deficiency (< 20 ng/ml) appeared very common and an inverse relationship was observed between 25(OH) D levels and the response to therapy: lower levels being related to poorer response. In acute leukemias, a significant difference was noted between patients with long-term disease-free survival in those tested at diagnosis (P=0.001) or in those tested at the time of relapse (P=0.05). Similarly in patients with Philadelphia-positive leukemias, there was a correlation between molecular response and levels of 25(OH) D (P=0.01). Previously identified factors, such as age, season, gender, or nutritional index, were not related to circulating 25(OH) D levels. Lower levels of circulating 25(OH) D appeared related to a progressive stage of the disease and poor response to therapy, and, therefore, to the aggressiveness of the disease. It is a potential marker of prognosis in patients with leukemia.