Melatonin: A Potential Therapeutic Option for Breast Cancer.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to investigate melatonin's oncostatic effects in breast cancer, particularly its mechanisms of action and impact on tumor growth, metabolism, and drug resistance.
Results Summary
Melatonin inhibits breast cancer growth by suppressing ER mRNA expression and transcriptional activity via the MT1 receptor, regulates nuclear receptors and estrogen-metabolizing enzymes, and disrupts tumor glycolysis and critical signaling pathways. It also reverses resistance to hormone therapy and chemotherapy.
Population
Estrogen receptor-positive human breast cancer models (animal and human).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Melatonin | decrease | numerous cancers, especially breast cancer | - | - | has significant inhibitory effects | #1 |
Melatonin | decrease | ER mRNA expression | estrogen receptor (ER)-positive human breast cancer | - | suppressing | #2 |
Melatonin | decrease | ER transcriptional activity | estrogen receptor (ER)-positive human breast cancer | - | suppressing | #3 |
Melatonin | neutral | transactivation of nuclear receptors, estrogen-metabolizing enzymes, and the expression of related genes | - | - | regulates | #4 |
Melatonin | decrease | tumor aerobic glycolysis | - | - | suppresses | #5 |
Melatonin | decrease | critical cell-signaling pathways relevant to cell proliferation, survival, metastasis | - | - | suppresses | #6 |
Melatonin | decrease | drug resistance | - | - | overcomes | #7 |
Disruption of the circadian nocturnal melatonin signal | increase | growth, metabolism, and signaling of human breast cancer | animal and human models | - | promotes | #8 |
Disruption of the circadian nocturnal melatonin signal | increase | resistance to hormone therapy and chemotherapy | animal and human models | - | promotes | #9 |
Melatonin | decrease | resistance to hormone therapy and chemotherapy | - | - | reversed | #10 |
Melatonin has significant inhibitory effects in numerous cancers, especially breast cancer. In estrogen receptor (ER)-positive human breast cancer, the oncostatic actions of melatonin are mainly achieved by suppressing ER mRNA expression and ER transcriptional activity via the MT1 receptor. Melatonin also regulates the transactivation of nuclear receptors, estrogen-metabolizing enzymes, and the expression of related genes. Furthermore, melatonin suppresses tumor aerobic glycolysis, critical cell-signaling pathways relevant to cell proliferation, survival, metastasis, and overcomes drug resistance. Studies in animal and human models indicate that disruption of the circadian nocturnal melatonin signal promotes the growth, metabolism, and signaling of human breast cancer, resulting in resistance to hormone therapy and chemotherapy, which may be reversed by melatonin.