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Hosseinzadeh A, Jamshidi Naeini A, Sheibani M, Gholamine B, Reiter RJ, Mehrzadi S. Melatonin and oral diseases: possible therapeutic roles based on cellular mechanisms. Pharmacol Rep 2024; 76:487-503. [PMID: 38607587 DOI: 10.1007/s43440-024-00593-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Oral diseases, including periodontal disorders, oral cancer, periodontitis, and mucositis are the major challenges for both patients and healthcare providers. These conditions often involve inflammation, oxidative stress, and impaired cellular processes, leading to symptoms ranging from discomfort to severe debilitation. Conventional treatments for such oral diseases exhibit constraints, prompting the investigation of innovative therapeutic approaches. Considering the anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-cancer effects of melatonin, this study was carried out to investigate the potential protective effects of melatonin in mitigating the severity of oral diseases. Studies indicate that melatonin influences the differentiation of periodontal stem cells, inhibits oral cancer progression, reduces inflammation associated with periodontitis, and alleviates the severity of oral mucositis. Melatonin has demonstrated potential efficacy in both preclinical and clinical investigations; however, findings are frequently heterogeneous and contingent upon contextual factors. This review provides a comprehensiveoverview of current state of knowledge in this domain, elucidating the multifaceted role that melatonin may assume in combatingoral diseases. Further research should be directed toward determining the most effective dosing, timing, and administration methods for melatonin-based therapies for oral diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azam Hosseinzadeh
- Razi Drug Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Jamshidi Naeini
- Razi Drug Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Sheibani
- Razi Drug Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Babak Gholamine
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Russel J Reiter
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Saeed Mehrzadi
- Razi Drug Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Martínez-Campa C, Álvarez-García V, Alonso-González C, González A, Cos S. Melatonin and Its Role in the Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) in Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:956. [PMID: 38473317 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16050956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a cell-biological program that occurs during the progression of several physiological processes and that can also take place during pathological situations such as carcinogenesis. The EMT program consists of the sequential activation of a number of intracellular signaling pathways aimed at driving epithelial cells toward the acquisition of a series of intermediate phenotypic states arrayed along the epithelial-mesenchymal axis. These phenotypic features include changes in the motility, conformation, polarity and functionality of cancer cells, ultimately leading cells to stemness, increased invasiveness, chemo- and radioresistance and the formation of cancer metastasis. Amongst the different existing types of the EMT, type 3 is directly involved in carcinogenesis. A type 3 EMT occurs in neoplastic cells that have previously acquired genetic and epigenetic alterations, specifically affecting genes involved in promoting clonal outgrowth and invasion. Markers such as E-cadherin; N-cadherin; vimentin; and transcription factors (TFs) like Twist, Snail and ZEB are considered key molecules in the transition. The EMT process is also regulated by microRNA expression. Many miRNAs have been reported to repress EMT-TFs. Thus, Snail 1 is repressed by miR-29, miR-30a and miR-34a; miR-200b downregulates Slug; and ZEB1 and ZEB2 are repressed by miR-200 and miR-205, respectively. Occasionally, some microRNA target genes act downstream of the EMT master TFs; thus, Twist1 upregulates the levels of miR-10b. Melatonin is an endogenously produced hormone released mainly by the pineal gland. It is widely accepted that melatonin exerts oncostatic actions in a large variety of tumors, inhibiting the initiation, progression and invasion phases of tumorigenesis. The molecular mechanisms underlying these inhibitory actions are complex and involve a great number of processes. In this review, we will focus our attention on the ability of melatonin to regulate some key EMT-related markers, transcription factors and micro-RNAs, summarizing the multiple ways by which this hormone can regulate the EMT. Since melatonin has no known toxic side effects and is also known to help overcome drug resistance, it is a good candidate to be considered as an adjuvant drug to conventional cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Martínez-Campa
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria and Instituto de Investigación Valdecilla (IDIVAL), 39011 Santander, Spain
| | - Virginia Álvarez-García
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria and Instituto de Investigación Valdecilla (IDIVAL), 39011 Santander, Spain
| | - Carolina Alonso-González
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria and Instituto de Investigación Valdecilla (IDIVAL), 39011 Santander, Spain
| | - Alicia González
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria and Instituto de Investigación Valdecilla (IDIVAL), 39011 Santander, Spain
| | - Samuel Cos
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria and Instituto de Investigación Valdecilla (IDIVAL), 39011 Santander, Spain
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Abdelbaset-Ismail A, Brzezniakiewicz-Janus K, Thapa A, Ratajczak J, Kucia M, Ratajczak MZ. Pineal Gland Hormone Melatonin Inhibits Migration of Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells (HSPCs) by Downregulating Nlrp3 Inflammasome and Upregulating Heme Oxygenase-1 (HO-1) Activity. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2024; 20:237-246. [PMID: 37812364 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-023-10638-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Hematopoietic stem progenitor cells (HSPCs) follow the diurnal circulation rhythm in peripheral blood (PB) with nadir during late night and peak at early morning hours. The level of these cells in PB correlates with activation of innate immunity pathways, including complement cascade (ComC) that drives activation of Nlrp3 inflammasome. To support this, mice both in defective ComC activation as well as Nlrp3 inflammasome do not show typical changes in the diurnal level of circulating HSPCs. Migration of HSPCs is also impaired at the intracellular level by the anti-inflammatory enzyme heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) which is an inhibitor of Nlrp3 inflammasome. It is also well known that circadian rhythm mediates PB level of melatonin released from the pineal gland. Since trafficking of HSPCs is driven by innate immunity-induced sterile inflammation and melatonin has an anti-inflammatory effect, we hypothesized that melatonin could negatively impact the release of HSPCs from BM into PB by inhibiting Nlrp3 inflammasome activation. We provide an evidence that melatonin being a ''sleep regulating pineal hormone'' directly inhibits migration of HSPCs both in vitro migration assays and in vivo during pharmacological mobilization. This correlated with inhibition of cholesterol synthesis required for a proper membrane lipid raft (MLRs) formation and an increase in expression of HO-1-an inhibitor of Nlrp3 inflammasome. Since melatonin is a commonly used drug, this should be considered while preparing a patient for the procedure of HSPCs mobilization. More importantly, our studies shed more mechanistic light on a role of melatonin in the diurnal circulation of HSPCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Abdelbaset-Ismail
- Stem Cell Institute at Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, 500 S. Floyd Street, Rm. 107, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
- Surgery, Anesthesiology, and Radiology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | | | - Arjun Thapa
- Stem Cell Institute at Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, 500 S. Floyd Street, Rm. 107, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Janina Ratajczak
- Stem Cell Institute at Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, 500 S. Floyd Street, Rm. 107, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Magda Kucia
- Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Mariusz Z Ratajczak
- Stem Cell Institute at Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, 500 S. Floyd Street, Rm. 107, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
- Department of Hematology, University of Zielona Gora, Multi-Specialist Hospital Gorzow Wlkp., Gorzow Wlkp., Poland.
- Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
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Gil-Martín E, Ramos E, López-Muñoz F, Egea J, Romero A. Potential of melatonin to reverse epigenetic aberrations in oral cancer: new findings. EXCLI JOURNAL 2023; 22:1280-1310. [PMID: 38234969 PMCID: PMC10792176 DOI: 10.17179/excli2023-6624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
It is now an accepted principle that epigenetic alterations cause cellular dyshomeostasis and functional changes, both of which are essential for the initiation and completion of the tumor cycle. Oral carcinogenesis is no exception in this regard, as most of the tumors in the different subsites of the oral cavity arise from the cross-reaction between (epi)genetic inheritance and the huge challenge of environmental stressors. Currently, the biochemical machinery is put at the service of the tumor program, halting the cell cycle, triggering uncontrolled proliferation, driving angiogenesis and resistance to apoptosis, until the archetypes of the tumor phenotype are reached. Melatonin has the ability to dynamically affect the epigenetic code. It has become accepted that melatonin can reverse (epi)genetic aberrations present in oral and other cancers, suggesting the possibility of enhancing the oncostatic capacity of standard multimodal treatments by incorporating this indolamine as an adjuvant. First steps in this direction confirm the potential of melatonin as a countermeasure to mitigate the detrimental side effects of conventional first-line radiochemotherapy. This single effect could produce synergies of extraordinary clinical importance, allowing doses to be increased and treatments not to be interrupted, ultimately improving patients' quality of life and prognosis. Motivated by the urgency of improving the medical management of oral cancer, many authors advocate moving from in vitro and preclinical research, where the bulk of melatonin cancer research is concentrated, to systematic randomized clinical trials on large cohorts. Recognizing the challenge to improve the clinical management of cancer, our motivation is to encourage comprehensive and robust research to reveal the clinical potential of melatonin in oral cancer control. To improve the outcome and quality of life of patients with oral cancer, here we provide the latest evidence of the oncolytic activity that melatonin can achieve by manipulating epigenetic patterns in oronasopharyngeal tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilio Gil-Martín
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain
| | - Eva Ramos
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco López-Muñoz
- Faculty of Health, Camilo José Cela University of Madrid (UCJC), 28692 Madrid, Spain
- Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, Hospital 12 de Octubre Research Institute, 28041 Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Egea
- Unidad de Investigación, Hospital Santa Cristina, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Princesa (IIS-IP), 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Alejandro Romero
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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Liao H, Li H, Dong J, Song J, Chen H, Si H, Wang J, Bai X. Melatonin blunts the tumor-promoting effect of cancer-associated fibroblasts by reducing IL-8 expression and reversing epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 119:110194. [PMID: 37080066 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.110194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most studies on melatonin have focused on tumor cells but have ignored the tumor microenvironment (TME), especially one of its important components, the cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Therefore, we attempted to explore the role of melatonin in TME. METHODS We investigated the regulatory role of melatonin in the tumor-promoting effect of CAFs and its underlying mechanism by using cell and animal models. RESULTS CAFs promoted tumor progression, but melatonin weakened the tumor-promoting effect of CAFs. Compared with tumor cells, IL-8 was mainly expressed in CAFs. CAFs-overexpressing IL-8 induced the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of tumor cells, and a positive crosstalk was observed between CAFs and tumor cells undergoing EMT, thereby further promoting the IL-8 expression. Melatonin suppressed this crosstalk by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway, thereby impeding the IL-8 expression from CAFs. Importantly, melatonin reversed CAFs-derived IL-8-mediated EMT by inhibiting the AKT pathway. Melatonin was found to directly and indirectly inhibit tumor progression. CONCLUSION Our research reveals the potential action mechanism of melatonin in regulating the CAF-tumor cell interaction and suggests the potential of melatonin as an adjuvant of tumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huifeng Liao
- Department of General Surgery, The First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China; The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Huayan Li
- Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Junhua Dong
- Department of General Surgery, The Seventh Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Jin Song
- Department of General Surgery, The Seventh Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Hongye Chen
- Department of General Surgery, The First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Huiyan Si
- Department of General Surgery, The First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Jiandong Wang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China.
| | - Xue Bai
- Department of General Surgery, The First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China; The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
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Wang L, Wang C, Tao Z, Zhu W, Su Y, Choi WS. Tumor-associated macrophages facilitate oral squamous cell carcinomas migration and invasion by MIF/NLRP3/IL-1β circuit: A crosstalk interrupted by melatonin. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2023; 1869:166695. [PMID: 36958712 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2023.166695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023]
Abstract
Invasion and migration are significant challenges for treatment of oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs). Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) interact with cancer cells and are involved in tumor progression. Our recent study demonstrated that melatonin inhibits OSCC invasion and migration; however, the mechanism by which melatonin influences crosstalk between TAMs and OSCCs is poorly understood. In this study, a co-culture system was established to explore the interactions between human monocytic cells (THP-1 cells) and human tongue squamous cell carcinoma cells (SCC-15 cells). The results were verified using monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) isolated and differentiated from primary peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In vivo, assays were performed to confirm the anticancer effects of melatonin. SCC-15 cells co-cultured with THP-1 cells or MDMs exhibited increased migration and invasion, which was reversed by melatonin. Co-culture also increased the expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), CD40, CD163 and IL-1β, and these changes were also reversed by melatonin. Moreover, IL-1β secretion in THP-1 cells was MIF- and NLR family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3)-dependent, and treated with IL-1β enhanced the invasion and migration of SCC-15 cells. Furthermore, melatonin treatment significantly decreased tumor volumes and weights, and tumors from mice treated with melatonin had lower levels of MIF, NLRP3, and IL-1β than tumor from control mice. These results demonstrate that macrophages facilitate the progression of OSCCs by promoting the MIF/NLRP3/IL-1β signaling axis, which can be interrupted by melatonin. Therefore, melatonin could act as an alternative anticancer agent for OSCCs by targeting this signaling axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leilei Wang
- Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Chuan Wang
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST KLOS) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education (KLOBME), School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Department of Periodontology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhuoying Tao
- Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Wangyong Zhu
- Department of Dental Surgery, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yuxiong Su
- Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Wing Shan Choi
- Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
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Dholariya S, Singh RD, Patel KA. Melatonin: Emerging Player in the Management of Oral Cancer. Crit Rev Oncog 2023; 28:77-92. [PMID: 37830217 DOI: 10.1615/critrevoncog.2023048934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Oral cancer (OC) has emerged as a major medical and social issue in many industrialized nations due to the high death rate. It is becoming increasingly common in people under the age of 45, although the underlying causes and mechanisms of this increase remain unclear. Melatonin, as a pleiotropic hormone, plays a pivotal role in a wide variety of cellular and physiological functions. Mounting evidence supports melatonin's ability to modify/influence oral carcinogenesis, help in the reduction of the incidence of OC, and increase chemo- and radiosensitivity. Despite its potential anti-carcinogenic effects, the precise function of melatonin in the management of OC is not well understood. This review summarizes the current knowledge regarding melatonin function in anti-carcinogenesis mechanisms for OC. In addition, clinical assessment and the potential therapeutic utility of melatonin in OC are discussed. This review will provide a basis for researchers to create new melatonin-based personalized medicines for treating and preventing OC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sagar Dholariya
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rajkot, Gujarat, India
| | - Ragini D Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rajkot, Gujarat, India
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Yan Z, Zhang X, Hua L, Huang L. Melatonin inhibits the malignant progression of glioblastoma via regulating miR-16-5p/PIM1. Curr Neurovasc Res 2022; 19:92-99. [PMID: 35388757 DOI: 10.2174/1567202619666220406084947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Melatonin (MT) is a pineal hormone with antineoplastic potential. This study aims to explore the therapeutic potential and mechanism of MT on glioblastoma (GBM). METHODS A human GBM cell line, LN229 was used for evaluating the function of MT. Cell viability, apoptosis, and migration were detected by CCK-8, flow cytometry, and transwell assays, respectively. The mRNA and protein expression of specific genes were measured by qRT-PCR and western blot, respectively. The regulatory relationship between miR-16-5p and PIM1 was validated by dual luciferase reporter gene assay. A mouse xenograft model was established to prove the anti-tumor effect and related mechanisms of MT in vivo. RESULTS MT inhibited the viability and migration, and promoted the apoptosis of LN229 cells in a dose-dependent manner. MiR-16-5p was dose-dependently up-regulated by MT in LN229 cells, which negatively regulated its target PIM1. MiR-16-5p inhibitor eliminated the anti-tumor effect of MT in LN229 cells, while si-PIM1 reversed the effect of miR-16-5p inhibitor in MT-treated cells. MT inhibited the tumor growth in vivo and MT-induced PIM1 down-regulation was reversed by miR-16-5p inhibition in tumor tissues. CONCLUSIONS MT inhibits the malignant progression of GBM via regulating miR-16-5p-midiated PIM1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoxian Yan
- First Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lin Hua
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lifa Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
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Wang L, Wang C, Choi WS. Use of Melatonin in Cancer Treatment: Where Are We? Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073779. [PMID: 35409137 PMCID: PMC8998229 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer represents a large group of diseases accounting for nearly 10 million deaths each year. Various treatment strategies, including surgical resection combined with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, have been applied for cancer treatment. However, the outcomes remain largely unsatisfying. Melatonin, as an endogenous hormone, is associated with the circadian rhythm moderation. Many physiological functions of melatonin besides sleep–wake cycle control have been identified, such as antioxidant, immunomodulation, and anti-inflammation. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have described the anticancer effects of melatonin. This has drawn our attention to the potential usage of melatonin for cancer treatment in the clinical setting, although huge obstacles still exist before its wide clinical administration is accepted. The exact mechanisms behind its anticancer effects remain unclear, and the specific characters impede its in vivo investigation. In this review, we will summarize the latest advances in melatonin studies, including its chemical properties, the possible mechanisms for its anticancer effects, and the ongoing clinical trials. Importantly, challenges for the clinical application of melatonin will be discussed, accompanied with our perspectives on its future development. Finally, obstacles and perspectives of using melatonin for cancer treatment will be proposed. The present article will provide a comprehensive foundation for applying melatonin as a preventive and therapeutic agent for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leilei Wang
- Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China;
| | - Chuan Wang
- Division of Periodontology & Implant Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China;
| | - Wing Shan Choi
- Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +852-28590266
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