Melatonin in Cancer Treatment: Current Knowledge and Future Opportunities.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to summarize melatonin's anticancer mechanisms, clinical applications, and pharmaceutical formulations, focusing on its potential as an adjuvant therapy in cancer treatment.
Results Summary
Melatonin demonstrated multiple anticancer effects, including apoptosis induction, tumor growth inhibition, and reduced chemotherapy side effects. Clinical trials supported its efficacy as an adjuvant to conventional cancer therapies.
Population
Not specified (review of epidemiological, experimental, and clinical studies).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
melatonin | decrease | different types of cancer | in vitro and in vivo | - | could inhibit | #1 |
melatonin | increase | apoptosis | - | - | induction | #2 |
melatonin | decrease | cell proliferation | - | - | inhibition | #3 |
melatonin | decrease | tumor growth | - | - | reduction | #4 |
melatonin | decrease | metastases | - | - | reduction | #5 |
melatonin | decrease | side effects associated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy | - | - | reduction | #6 |
melatonin | decrease | drug resistance in cancer therapy | - | - | decreasing | #7 |
melatonin | increase | therapeutic effects of conventional anticancer therapies | - | - | augmentation | #8 |
melatonin | neutral | - | clinical trials | - | is an effective adjuvant drug | #9 |
Melatonin is a pleotropic molecule with numerous biological activities. Epidemiological and experimental studies have documented that melatonin could inhibit different types of cancer in vitro and in vivo. Results showed the involvement of melatonin in different anticancer mechanisms including apoptosis induction, cell proliferation inhibition, reduction in tumor growth and metastases, reduction in the side effects associated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, decreasing drug resistance in cancer therapy, and augmentation of the therapeutic effects of conventional anticancer therapies. Clinical trials revealed that melatonin is an effective adjuvant drug to all conventional therapies. This review summarized melatonin biosynthesis, availability from natural sources, metabolism, bioavailability, anticancer mechanisms of melatonin, its use in clinical trials, and pharmaceutical formulation. Studies discussed in this review will provide a solid foundation for researchers and physicians to design and develop new therapies to treat and prevent cancer using melatonin.