According to a study published in the journal CANCER, vitamin D levels are key in determining the response of the human body to anti-cancer immunotherapy, especially among people with advanced skin cancer. Previous research, published earlier this year in Melanoma Research, revealed that individuals who took vitamin D on a daily basis were less likely to have melanoma.

Melanoma is characterised by the formation of malignant (cancer) cells called melanocytes, i.e., cells that colour the skin. It can develop in any part of the body and has been associated with several risk factors, such as unusual moles, exposure to sunlight, family history, etc.The study showed that it was important to maintain vitamin D levels in patients with advanced myeloma while receiving immunotherapy medications called immune checkpoint inhibitors. In the study, the researchers analysed the blood of 200 patients with advanced melanoma both before and every 12 weeks during immunotherapy treatment.

The findings of the study showed that in the group with normal baseline vitamin D levels or normal levels obtained with vitamin D supplementation, 56% of the patients responded favourably to immune checkpoint inhibitors. On the other hand, only 36.2% of the patients responded favourably in the group with low vitamin D levels without supplementation.

Additionally, the duration of progression-free survival was found to be 11.25 months in the normal vitamin D group in comparison to 5.75 months in the vitamin D deficient group. 

(Source: https://www.mid-day.com/lifestyle/health-and-fitness/article/vitamin-d-levels-may-influence-bodys-response-to-cancer-treatment-study-23282810 )