An investigation of the anti-cancer effects of vitamin D on the expression of HE4 gene and the viability of ovarian cancer cell line A2780S

Ovarian cancer is the second most common cause of death in Iran. A reduction in vitamin D production has been associated with an increased risk for ovarian cancer in many studies. Human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) is known as one of the most accurate tumor markers for the analysis of ovarian epithelial cancer illness or progression. The expression of the gene increases in many types of ovarian cancer. The aim of this study was to find whether vitamin D has anticancer effects on the viability of HE4 gene expression.

The human ovarian cancer cell line (A2780S) was cultured in an RPMI-1640 medium. To determine the inhibitory concentration (IC50), the cells were treated with various concentrations of vitamin D and then incubated for 24, 48, and 72 hours. The effect of drugs on the expression of HE4 gene modification was measured and evaluated using the real-time polymerase chain reaction and a 2-ΔΔCT method, respectively.

The IC50 value for vitamin D was 0.359 μM, and the maximum death rates were observed after 24 hours (56.20 ± 5.79). The HE4 gene expression treated with vitamin D increased compared with the cells in the control group (Fold change > 1).

Vitamin D decreases the viability of A2780S cells, whereas the expression of the HE4 gene is improved in cells treated with vitamin D compared to control cells, indicating that vitamin D may be unable to modify A2780S cells.