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Review
. 2018 Feb 26;23(3):518.
doi: 10.3390/molecules23030518.

Melatonin and Cancer Hallmarks

Wamidh H Talib  1
Affiliations
Review

Melatonin and Cancer Hallmarks

Wamidh H Talib. Molecules. .

Abstract

Melatonin is a natural indoleamine produced by the pineal gland that has many functions, including regulation of the circadian rhythm. Many studies have reported the anticancer effect of melatonin against a myriad of cancer types. Cancer hallmarks include sustained proliferation, evading growth suppressors, metastasis, replicative immortality, angiogenesis, resisting cell death, altered cellular energetics, and immune evasion. Melatonin anticancer activity is mediated by interfering with various cancer hallmarks. This review summarizes the anticancer role of melatonin in each cancer hallmark. The studies discussed in this review should serve as a solid foundation for researchers and physicians to support basic and clinical studies on melatonin as a promising anticancer agent.

Keywords: angiogenesis; anticancer; cancer hallmarks; immune evasion; melatonin; metastasis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author declares no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Melatonin biosynthetic pathway. TPH: tryptophan hydroxylase; AAAD: aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase; AANAT: arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase; ASMT: acetylserotonin O-methyltransferase.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Effects of melatonin on different cancer hallmarks. stands for stimulation; stands for inhibition.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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