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Review
. 2021 Apr 25;26(9):2506.
doi: 10.3390/molecules26092506.

Melatonin in Cancer Treatment: Current Knowledge and Future Opportunities

Wamidh H Talib  1 , Ahmad Riyad Alsayed  1 , Alaa Abuawad  2 , Safa Daoud  3 , Asma Ismail Mahmod  1
Affiliations
Review

Melatonin in Cancer Treatment: Current Knowledge and Future Opportunities

Wamidh H Talib et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

Melatonin is a pleotropic molecule with numerous biological activities. Epidemiological and experimental studies have documented that melatonin could inhibit different types of cancer in vitro and in vivo. Results showed the involvement of melatonin in different anticancer mechanisms including apoptosis induction, cell proliferation inhibition, reduction in tumor growth and metastases, reduction in the side effects associated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, decreasing drug resistance in cancer therapy, and augmentation of the therapeutic effects of conventional anticancer therapies. Clinical trials revealed that melatonin is an effective adjuvant drug to all conventional therapies. This review summarized melatonin biosynthesis, availability from natural sources, metabolism, bioavailability, anticancer mechanisms of melatonin, its use in clinical trials, and pharmaceutical formulation. Studies discussed in this review will provide a solid foundation for researchers and physicians to design and develop new therapies to treat and prevent cancer using melatonin.

Keywords: anticancer; cancer therapy; hormonal therapy; phytomelatonin; pineal gland.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Melatonin biosynthesis in human.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Melatonin’s mechanisms as antioxidant. ROS, reactive oxygen species; RNS, reactive nitrogen species.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Summary of melatonin activity in restraining cancer hallmarks. BAX/BAK, proapoptotic proteins; NF-κB, nuclear factor kappa B; JNK, c-Jun N-terminal kinase; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor; IGF-1R, insulin like growth factor 1 receptor; HIF-1α, hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha; STAT3, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3; MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase; PTEN, phosphatase and tensin homolog.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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