Potential use of melatonin in skin cancer treatment: A review of current biological evidence.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate melatonin's potential as an oncostatic and antitumoral agent in skin cancer treatment, focusing on its mechanisms and synergistic effects with chemo- and radiotherapy.
Results Summary
Melatonin demonstrated oncostatic and antitumoral properties, including anti-inflammatory effects, reactive oxygen species induction, and apoptosis regulation through specific signaling pathways. The study suggested that combining melatonin with conventional therapies could enhance therapeutic outcomes and survival in skin cancer patients.
Population
Patients with skin cancer, particularly melanoma.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
melatonin | decrease | tumor growth | - | - | has oncostatic and antitumoral properties | #1 |
melatonin | decrease | tumor growth | - | - | acts as an anti-inflammatory and reactive oxygen species inducer agent which suppresses | #2 |
melatonin | increase | apoptosis | - | - | has apoptosis induction characteristics through regulating signaling pathways | #3 |
adding melatonin to chemo- and radiotherapy | increase | therapeutic effects | patients with skin cancer | - | may have synergistic therapeutic effects | #4 |
adding melatonin to chemo- and radiotherapy | increase | survival time | patients with skin cancer | - | may increase | #5 |
melatonin | increase | outcomes | skin cancer patients | - | may improve | #6 |
Skin cancer, particularly melanoma, is a leading cause of death worldwide. The therapeutic methods for this malignancy are not effective, and due to the side effects of these treatments, applying an appropriate alternative or complementary treatment is important. According to available data, melatonin as the main product of the pineal gland has oncostatic and antitumoral properties. Also, melatonin acts as an anti-inflammatory and reactive oxygen species inducer agent which suppresses the growth of tumors. It also has apoptosis induction characteristics through regulating signaling pathways, including heat shock protein 70, nuclear factor-erythroid 2 p45-related factor 2 and others. Thus, adding melatonin to chemo- and radiotherapy may have synergistic therapeutic effects and increase the survival time in patients with skin cancer. Few clinical studies have evaluated the efficacy of melatonin in skin cancer. Based on the related mechanisms, this review discusses about how melatonin may improve outcomes in skin cancer patients.