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Review
. 2018 Dec 6;19(12):3910.
doi: 10.3390/ijms19123910.

Melatonin May Increase Anticancer Potential of Pleiotropic Drugs

Bianka Bojková  1 , Peter Kubatka  2   3 , Tawar Qaradakhi  4 , Anthony Zulli  5 , Karol Kajo  6   7
Affiliations
Review

Melatonin May Increase Anticancer Potential of Pleiotropic Drugs

Bianka Bojková et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is not only a pineal hormone, but also an ubiquitary molecule present in plants and part of our diet. Numerous preclinical and some clinical reports pointed to its multiple beneficial effects including oncostatic properties, and as such, it has become one of the most aspiring goals in cancer prevention/therapy. A link between cancer and inflammation and/or metabolic disorders has been well established and the therapy of these conditions with so-called pleiotropic drugs, which include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, statins and peroral antidiabetics, modulates a cancer risk too. Adjuvant therapy with melatonin may improve the oncostatic potential of these drugs. Results from preclinical studies are limited though support this hypothesis, which, however, remains to be verified by further research.

Keywords: NSAIDs; antidiabetics; cancer; melatonin; statins.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Structure of melatonin (MEL).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Oncostatic mechanisms of action of MEL.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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