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In addition to the metabolic role of vitamin D, which is well known and clearly defined, there have been many hypotheses regarding its anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic role. Epidemiology and Significance of Prostate Cancer. Prostate cancer is the second most common malignancy in men. Long period of cancerogenesis, available tumor markers and high incidence make this cancer ideal for preventive measures. Physiological Role of Vitamin D and its Effect on Prostate Cancer Cells. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown the anti-proliferative and pro-apoptopic role of vitamin D. Disorders of vitamin D metabolism are noted in vitamin D gene level, vitamin D receptor, vitamin D responsive elements and androgen receptors. We present the most important effect of those changes on vitamin D metabolism. Conclusion. Available studies on vitamin D level in serum, prostate tissue, observed activity of vitamin D enzymes and genetic changes give us only a slight insight into the basic mechanisms of vitamin D action in the development of prostate cancer; therefore, further investigations are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endothelial-cell function is important in the healing of damaged endothelium after percutaneous coronary artery damage. In 3 different animal models, we sought to determine whether rapamycin (sirolimus) affects the proliferation and migration of endothelial cells and endothelial progenitor cells. First, after we implanted stents in dogs, we found that re-endothelialization was impeded more by drug-eluting stents than by bare-metal stents, 30 days after percutaneous coronary intervention. Second, in vitro in rats, we found that 1-100 ng/mL of rapamycin time- and dose-dependently inhibited proliferation over 72 hr (with effects evident as early as 24 hr) and also dose-dependently induced endothelial progenitor-cell apoptosis. Finally, in vivo in rats, we observed that vascular endothelial growth factor expression was decreased after 5 days of rapamycin treatment. We conclude that rapamycin impedes reendothelialization after drug-eluting stent implantation by inhibiting the proliferation and migration of coronary endothelial cells, inducing endothelial progenitor-cell apoptosis, and decreasing vascular endothelial growth factor expression in the circulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]