The Potential of Integrative Cancer Treatment Using Melatonin and the Challenge of Heterogeneity in Population-Based Studies: A Case Report of Colon Cancer and a Literature Review.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the effects of melatonin on alleviating chemotherapy-induced adverse effects, normalizing inflammatory markers, and improving quality of life in a colon cancer patient.
Results Summary
Melatonin (19 mg/day) reduced PSA levels, normalized inflammatory markers, and alleviated polyneuropathy symptoms but did not improve thrombocytopenia. The study suggests potential benefits but notes inconclusive results due to study heterogeneity.
Population
A single colon cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy.
Effective Dosage
19 mg/day
Duration
During and after chemotherapy (exact duration not specified)
Interactions
Combined with nutrients (zinc, selenium, vitamin D, green tea, taxifolin) and aspirin after chemotherapy.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
exogenous melatonin | decrease | harmful effects of anticancer therapy | - | - | alleviates | #1 |
exogenous melatonin | increase | quality of life | - | - | improves | #2 |
melatonin (19 mg/day) | decrease | PSA levels | patient | - | decreased | #3 |
melatonin | no change | inflammatory markers | patient | - | normalized | #4 |
melatonin | decrease | symptoms of polyneuropathy | patient | - | alleviated | #5 |
melatonin | no change | thrombocytopenia | patient | - | did not help with | #6 |
Melatonin is a multifunctional hormone regulator that maintains homeostasis through circadian rhythms, and desynchronization of these rhythms can lead to gastrointestinal disorders and increase the risk of cancer. Preliminary clinical studies have shown that exogenous melatonin alleviates the harmful effects of anticancer therapy and improves quality of life, but the results are still inconclusive due to the heterogeneity of the studies. A personalized approach to testing clinical parameters and response to integrative treatment with nontoxic and bioavailable melatonin in patient-centered N-of-1 studies deserves greater attention. This clinical case of colon cancer analyzes and discusses the tumor pathology, the adverse effects of chemotherapy, and the dynamics of markers of inflammation (NLR, LMR, and PLR ratios), tumors (CEA, CA 19-9, and PSA), and hemostasis (D-dimer and activated partial thromboplastin time). The patient took melatonin during and after chemotherapy, nutrients (zinc, selenium, vitamin D, green tea, and taxifolin), and aspirin after chemotherapy. The patient's PSA levels decreased during CT combined with melatonin (19 mg/day), and melatonin normalized inflammatory markers and alleviated symptoms of polyneuropathy but did not help with thrombocytopenia. The results are analyzed and discussed in the context of the literature on oncostatic and systemic effects, alleviating therapy-mediated adverse effects, association with survival, and N-of-1 studies.