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Review
. 2017 Jun 13;8(24):39896-39921.
doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.16379.

Melatonin for the prevention and treatment of cancer

Ya Li  1 , Sha Li  2 , Yue Zhou  1 , Xiao Meng  1 , Jiao-Jiao Zhang  1 , Dong-Ping Xu  1 , Hua-Bin Li  1   3
Affiliations
Review

Melatonin for the prevention and treatment of cancer

Ya Li et al. Oncotarget. .

Abstract

The epidemiological studies have indicated a possible oncostatic property of melatonin on different types of tumors. Besides, experimental studies have documented that melatonin could exert growth inhibition on some human tumor cells in vitro and in animal models. The underlying mechanisms include antioxidant activity, modulation of melatonin receptors MT1 and MT2, stimulation of apoptosis, regulation of pro-survival signaling and tumor metabolism, inhibition on angiogenesis, metastasis, and induction of epigenetic alteration. Melatonin could also be utilized as adjuvant of cancer therapies, through reinforcing the therapeutic effects and reducing the side effects of chemotherapies or radiation. Melatonin could be an excellent candidate for the prevention and treatment of several cancers, such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, gastric cancer and colorectal cancer. This review summarized the anticancer efficacy of melatonin, based on the results of epidemiological,experimental and clinical studies, and special attention was paid to the mechanisms of action.

Keywords: anticancer; apoptosis; mechanisms of action; melatonin; receptor.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Structure of melatonin
Figure 2
Figure 2. The biosynthesis and metabolism process of melatonin
Figure 3
Figure 3. Mechanisms of the anticancer effect of melatonin
→stands for promotion, - stands for regulation, and —stands for inhibition.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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