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The emergence of melatonin in oncology: Focus on colorectal cancer.

Medicinal research reviews
November 1, 2019
Emilio Gil-Martín et al. (4 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate melatonin's anticancer properties, focusing on its potential role in colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment and prevention, including its effects on tumor growth, metastasis, and alleviation of therapy side effects.

Results Summary

The study found that melatonin exhibits oncostatic effects across all stages of tumor growth, mitigates malignant progression and metastasis, and improves patient welfare during radio/chemotherapy. Epidemiological, in vitro, in vivo, and clinical evidence supports its broad protective potential against CRC.

Population

Colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, particularly those with metastatic CRC.

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (10)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
melatonin
decrease
cancer
clinical oncology
-
has substantial anticancer properties
#1
melatonin
decrease
tumor growth
-
-
exerts oncostatic effects
#2
melatonin
decrease
initial cell transformation
-
-
exerts oncostatic effects
#3
melatonin
decrease
malignant progression
-
-
mitigation
#4
melatonin
decrease
metastasis
-
-
mitigation
#5
melatonin
decrease
side effects
radio/chemotherapy-treated patients
-
alleviates
#6
melatonin
increase
welfare
radio/chemotherapy-treated patients
-
improves
#7
melatonin
neutral
direct and indirect critical processes of CRC malignancy
colorectal cancer (CRC)
-
modulates
#8
melatonin
decrease
onset and evolution of CRC
-
-
displays multiple oncostatic actions
#9
melatonin
increase
CRC
-
-
demonstrates broadly protective potential
#10
Abstract

Within the last few decades, melatonin has increasingly emerged in clinical oncology as a naturally occurring bioactive molecule with substantial anticancer properties and a pharmacological profile optimal for joining the currently available pharmacopeia. In addition, extensive experimental data shows that this chronobiotic agent exerts oncostatic effects throughout all stages of tumor growth, from initial cell transformation to mitigation of malignant progression and metastasis; additionally, melatonin alleviates the side effects and improves the welfare of radio/chemotherapy-treated patients. Thus, the support of clinicians and oncologists for the use of melatonin in both the treatment and proactive prevention of cancer is gaining strength. Because of its epidemiological importance and symptomatic debut in advanced stages of difficult clinical management, colorectal cancer (CRC) is a preferential target for testing new therapies. In this regard, the development of effective forms of clinical intervention for the improvement of CRC outcome, specifically metastatic CRC, is urgent. At the same time, the need to reduce the costs of conventional anti-CRC therapy results is also imperative. In light of this status quo, the therapeutic potential of melatonin, and the direct and indirect critical processes of CRC malignancy it modulates, have aroused much interest. To illuminate the imminent future on CRC research, we focused our attention on the molecular mechanisms underlying the multiple oncostatic actions displayed by melatonin in the onset and evolution of CRC and summarized epidemiological evidence, as well as in vitro, in vivo and clinical findings that support the broadly protective potential demonstrated by melatonin.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AnimalsColorectal NeoplasmsDisease ProgressionEpigenesis, GeneticHumansMelatoninNeoplastic Stem CellsReceptors, Melatonin
Study Links
Quality Scores
Safety85
Efficacy75/10
Quality80/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations48
Citations/Year8.0
Relative Citation Ratio2.61
NIH Percentile81.8%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.50
Weight Score1.21
Normalized Score0.80
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