Abstract
Melatonin, an indolamine derived from the amino-acid tryptophan, participates in diverse physiological functions and has great functional versatility related to the regulation of circadian rhythms and seasonal behaviour, sexual development, retinal physiology, tumour inhibition, as an antioxidant, immunomodulatory and anti-aging properties. In relation to its oncostatic properties, there is evidence that tumor initiation, promotion or progression may be restrained by the night-time physiological surge of melatonin in the blood or extracellular fluid. In addition, depressed nocturnal melatonin concentrations or nocturnal excretion of the main melatonin metabolite, 6-sulfatoxymelatonin, were found in individuals with various tumor types. In the majority of studies, melatonin was shown to inhibit development and/or growth of various experimental animal tumors and some human cell lines in vitro. Many tumors do not respond to drug treatment due to their resistance to undergo apoptosis thereby contributing to the development of cancer. Thus, given the importance of the apoptotic program in cancer treatment, the role of melatonin in influencing apoptosis in tumor cells attracted attention because it seems that it actually promotes apoptosis in most tumor cells, in contrast to the obvious inhibition of apoptotic processes in normal cells. Thus, this paper is also intended to provide to the reader an up-date of all the researches that have been carried out to date, which investigate the proapoptotic effects of melatonin in experimental preclinical models of cancer (in vitro and in vivo) and the underlying proposed action mechanism of this effects. If melatonin uniformly induces apoptosis in cancer cells, the findings could have important clinical implications to improve the quality of live while preventing the appearance of cancer.
Keywords: Apoptosis, cancer cells, cancer therapy, caspase activation, cell cycle, cell death, extrinsic apoptotic pathway, intrinsic apoptotic pathway, melatonin, tumor.
Current Medicinal Chemistry
Title:Melatonin, A Natural Programmed Cell Death Inducer in Cancer
Volume: 19 Issue: 22
Author(s): M. Sánchez-Hidalgo, J. M. Guerrero, I. Villegas, G. Packham and C. A. de la Lastra
Affiliation:
Keywords: Apoptosis, cancer cells, cancer therapy, caspase activation, cell cycle, cell death, extrinsic apoptotic pathway, intrinsic apoptotic pathway, melatonin, tumor.
Abstract: Melatonin, an indolamine derived from the amino-acid tryptophan, participates in diverse physiological functions and has great functional versatility related to the regulation of circadian rhythms and seasonal behaviour, sexual development, retinal physiology, tumour inhibition, as an antioxidant, immunomodulatory and anti-aging properties. In relation to its oncostatic properties, there is evidence that tumor initiation, promotion or progression may be restrained by the night-time physiological surge of melatonin in the blood or extracellular fluid. In addition, depressed nocturnal melatonin concentrations or nocturnal excretion of the main melatonin metabolite, 6-sulfatoxymelatonin, were found in individuals with various tumor types. In the majority of studies, melatonin was shown to inhibit development and/or growth of various experimental animal tumors and some human cell lines in vitro. Many tumors do not respond to drug treatment due to their resistance to undergo apoptosis thereby contributing to the development of cancer. Thus, given the importance of the apoptotic program in cancer treatment, the role of melatonin in influencing apoptosis in tumor cells attracted attention because it seems that it actually promotes apoptosis in most tumor cells, in contrast to the obvious inhibition of apoptotic processes in normal cells. Thus, this paper is also intended to provide to the reader an up-date of all the researches that have been carried out to date, which investigate the proapoptotic effects of melatonin in experimental preclinical models of cancer (in vitro and in vivo) and the underlying proposed action mechanism of this effects. If melatonin uniformly induces apoptosis in cancer cells, the findings could have important clinical implications to improve the quality of live while preventing the appearance of cancer.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Sánchez-Hidalgo M., Guerrero M. J., Villegas I., Packham G. and de la Lastra A. C., Melatonin, A Natural Programmed Cell Death Inducer in Cancer, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2012; 19 (22) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986712801661013
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986712801661013 |
Print ISSN 0929-8673 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-533X |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Advances in Medicinal Chemistry: From Cancer to Chronic Diseases.
The broad spectrum of the issue will provide a comprehensive overview of emerging trends, novel therapeutic interventions, and translational insights that impact modern medicine. The primary focus will be diseases of global concern, including cancer, chronic pain, metabolic disorders, and autoimmune conditions, providing a broad overview of the advancements in ...read more
Approaches to the treatment of chronic inflammation
Chronic inflammation is a hallmark of numerous diseases, significantly impacting global health. Although chronic inflammation is a hot topic, not much has been written about approaches to its treatment. This thematic issue aims to showcase the latest advancements in chronic inflammation treatment and foster discussion on future directions in this ...read more
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Non-Infectious Inflammatory Diseases: Focus on Clinical Implications
The Special Issue covers the results of the studies on cellular and molecular mechanisms of non-infectious inflammatory diseases, in particular, autoimmune rheumatic diseases, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and other age-related disorders such as type II diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, etc. Review and research articles as well as methodology papers that summarize ...read more
Chalcogen-modified nucleic acid analogues
Chalcogen-modified nucleosides, nucleotides and oligonucleotides have been of great interest to scientific research for many years. The replacement of oxygen in the nucleobase, sugar or phosphate backbone by chalcogen atoms (sulfur, selenium, tellurium) gives these biomolecules unique properties resulting from their altered physical and chemical properties. The continuing interest in ...read more
![](/images/wayfinder.jpg)
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Exploration of Metastasis-related Proteins as Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets in the Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer
Current Cancer Drug Targets Deciphering Potential Role of Hippo Signaling Pathway in Breast Cancer: A Comprehensive Review
Current Pharmaceutical Design Potential Prognostic Predictors and Molecular Targets for Skin Melanoma Screened by Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis
Current Gene Therapy Synthesis of Drugs and Biorelevant N-heterocycles Employing Recent Advances in C-N Bond Formation
Current Organic Chemistry Pathophysiology and Treatment of Obesity Hypertension
Current Pharmaceutical Design Mechanism of Action of Limonene in Tumor Cells: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Current Pharmaceutical Design Honey, Health and Longevity
Current Aging Science Improving Cancer Therapeutics by Molecular Profiling
Current Drug Metabolism The Anti-Tumor Mechanism and Target of Triptolide Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking
Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery Bombacaceae Between the Ethnomedical Uses and Pharmacological Evidences: A Review
The Natural Products Journal Targeting mTOR Signaling Pathway in Ovarian Cancer
Current Medicinal Chemistry Bladder Cancer: Molecular Determinants of Personalized Therapy
Current Drug Targets Interleukin-15 in Gene Therapy of Cancer
Current Gene Therapy Rab GTPases, Membrane Trafficking and Diseases
Current Drug Targets Insulin-like Growth Factor: Current Concepts and New Developments in Cancer Therapy
Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery Hypophysitis Induced by Sintilimab in the Treatment of Bladder Cancer: A Case Report
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets Cucurbitacin IIb from Ibervillea sonorae Induces Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest via STAT3 Inhibition
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Advances on Quinazoline Based Congeners for Anticancer Potential
Current Organic Chemistry Medicinal Research Progress of Natural Coumarin and its Derivatives
The Natural Products Journal Production and Application of Copper Radiopharmaceuticals
Current Radiopharmaceuticals