Updated Meta-Analysis of VDR FokI and TaqI Variants and Their Association with Melanoma Risk

Farnoush, Nazila; Khosravi-Mashizi, Mehdi; Rahmani, Amirhossein; Barahman, Maedeh; Soleymani, Sepideh; Asadian, Fatemeh; Shirinzadeh-Dastgiri, Ahmad; Vakili-Ojarood, Mohammad; HaghighiKian, Seyed Masoud; Naseri, Amirhosein; Aghasipour, Maryam; Shiri, Amirmasoud; Aghili, Kazem; Neamatzadeh, Hossein

doi:10.14712/18059694.2025.8

Acta Medica > Archive > 2024, Vol. 67 > Issue 4 > Updated Meta-Analysis of VDR FokI and…

Acta Med. 2024, 67: 113-124

https://doi.org/10.14712/18059694.2025.8

Updated Meta-Analysis of VDR FokI and TaqI Variants and Their Association with Melanoma Risk

Nazila Farnoush^a, Mehdi Khosravi-Mashizi^b, Amirhossein Rahmani^c

, Maedeh Barahman^d, Sepideh Soleymani^b, Fatemeh Asadian^e, Ahmad Shirinzadeh-Dastgiri^f, Mohammad Vakili-Ojarood^g, Seyed Masoud HaghighiKian^b, Amirhosein Naseri^h, Maryam Aghasipourⁱ, Amirmasoud Shiri^j, Kazem Aghili^k, Hossein Neamatzadeh^l

^aDepartment of General Surgery, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
^bDepartment of General Surgery, School of Medicine Hazrat-e Rasool General Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
^cDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Iranshahr University of Medical Sciences, Iranshahr, Iran
^dDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Firoozgar Clinical Research Development Center (FCRDC), Firoozgar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
^eDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Paramedical Science, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
^fDepartment of Surgery, School of Medicine, Shohadaye Haft-e Tir Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
^gDepartment of Surgery, School of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
^hDepartment of Colorectal Surgery, Imam Reza Hospital, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
ⁱDepartment of Cancer Biology, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
^jStudent Research Committee, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
^kDepartment of Radiology, Shahid Rahnamoun Hospital, School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
^lMother and Newborn Health Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

Received March 6, 2024
Accepted February 24, 2025

Background: Research suggests that melanoma patients with low vitamin D levels exhibit a higher risk of tumor ulceration and increased tumor mitotic rates. This has led to investigations into the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene concerning its potential link to melanoma susceptibility. This meta-analysis aims to explore the association between VDR FokI and TaqI polymorphisms and melanoma risk, with an emphasis on the need for research in diverse populations to enhance our conclusions regarding interactions between skin phenotypes and VDR variations. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, for studies linking VDR polymorphisms to melanoma risk, up to February 1, 2024. Keywords used included “Melanoma”, “VDR”, and various genetic terms. Quantitative synthesis was performed with Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (Version 4.0) and a significance threshold set at p < 0.05. Results: A total of twenty-one case-control studies involving 8,813 melanoma cases and 7,973 controls were included. Twelve studies on FokI had 4,642 cases and 4,534 controls, while nine TaqI studies included 4,171 cases and 3,439 controls. The results show a significant association between the VDR FokI polymorphism and increased melanoma risk across four genetic models (allele model: OR = 1.128, 95% CI 1.026–1.241; P = 0.013; homozygote model: OR = 1.166, 95% CI 1.020–1.332; P = 0.025; heterozygote model: OR = 1.255, 95% CI 1.046–1.507; P = 0.015; dominant model: OR = 1.243, 95% CI 1.052–1.470; P = 0.011). In contrast, the TaqI polymorphism showed no significant association with melanoma risk in the general population. Conclusions: This meta-analysis suggests that the VDR FokI polymorphism is linked to an increased susceptibility to melanoma, while the TaqI variant does not show a significant association. Future research should explore the interactions between VDR polymorphisms, skin phenotypes, and melanoma risk in diverse populations, with larger and more varied studies needed to confirm these findings and enhance our understanding of genetic factors affecting melanoma susceptibility.