BIOMED   24552
INSTITUTO DE INVESTIGACIONES BIOMEDICAS
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
artículos
Título:
Melatonin-induced oncostasis. Mechanisms and clinical relevance.
Autor/es:
ESCAMES G; CARDINALI DP; FERNANDEZ GIL B; ORTIZ F; SHEN Y; GARCIA LOPEZ S; ACUÑA-CASTROVIEJO D; GUERRA LIBRERO A; FLORIDO J
Revista:
Journal of Integrative Oncology
Editorial:
OMICS International
Referencias:
Año: 2016 p. 1 - 25
ISSN:
2329-6771
Resumen:
Melatonin is a natural substance ubiquitously distributed and present in almost all living species, from unicellularorganisms to humans. Melatonin is synthesized not only in the pineal gland but also in most tissues in the bodywhere it may have a cytoprotective function via paracrine or autocrine effects. Melatonin is effective in suppressingneoplastic growth in a variety of tumors. The mechanisms involved include antiproliferative effects via modulationof cell cycle, ability to induce apoptosis in cancer cells, anti-angiogenic and antimetastatic effects, anti-estrogenicactivity, the capacity to decrease telomerase activity, immune modulation, and direct and indirect antioxidanteffects. Besides these oncostatic properties, melatonin deserves to be considered in the treatment of cancer fortwo other reasons. First, because its hypnotic-chronobiotic properties, melatonin use that can allow the clinician toeffectively address sleep disturbances, a major co-morbidity in cancer. Second, because melatonin?s anxiolytic andantidepressant effects, it has a possible application in two other major co-morbidities seen in cancer patients, i.e.depression and anxiety. This report summarizes the possible mechanisms involved in melatonin oncostasis andreviews what is known about the clinical application of melatonin as an adjuvant therapy in cancer patients