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Using Mouse Mammary Tumor Cells to Teach Core Biology Concepts: A Simple Lab Module
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Published on: June 18, 2015

Breast cancer therapy based on melatonin.

Emilio J Sanchez-Barcelo1, Maria D Mediavilla, Carolina Alonso-Gonzalez

  • 1Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain. barcelo@unican.es

Recent Patents on Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Drug Discovery
|February 29, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Melatonin, a hormone with cancer-fighting properties, may help treat breast cancer by modulating estrogen. Light-at-night (LAN) exposure suppresses melatonin, increasing breast cancer risk.

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Human Primary Trophoblast Cell Culture Model to Study the Protective Effects of Melatonin Against Hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced Disruption
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Published on: July 30, 2016

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Oncology
  • Chronobiology

Background:

  • Melatonin exhibits anti-cancer properties, acting as a Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator (SERM) and Selective Estrogen Enzyme Modulator (SEEM).
  • Nocturnal suppression of melatonin by light-at-night (LAN) is a potential risk factor for breast cancer.
  • Melatonin's oncostatic effects are linked to its modulation of estrogen pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the therapeutic potential of melatonin and melatoninergic drugs in breast cancer treatment.
  • To elucidate the SERM and SEEM mechanisms of melatonin in estrogen-sensitive breast cancer.
  • To investigate the impact of LAN on melatonin production and its association with breast cancer risk.

Main Methods:

  • Review of melatonin's SERM actions, including modulation of estrogen-regulated genes and proteins (e.g., hTERT, p53, ERα).
  • Analysis of melatonin's SEEM properties, focusing on its effects on estrogen-metabolizing enzymes (e.g., P450 aromatase, estrogen sulfatase).
  • Examination of evidence linking LAN exposure to decreased melatonin levels and increased breast cancer incidence in animal models and human epidemiological studies.

Main Results:

  • Melatonin's SERM activity involves modulating cell proliferation, invasiveness, and gene expression in ERα-positive cells via MT1 receptors.
  • Melatonin's SEEM activity includes inhibiting key enzymes in estrogen synthesis and metabolism while stimulating estrogen detoxification.
  • LAN exposure suppresses nocturnal melatonin, promoting mammary tumor growth in rats and correlating with increased breast cancer risk in women.

Conclusions:

  • Melatonin's dual SERM and SEEM actions, particularly its ERα specificity, offer potential advantages for breast cancer therapy, possibly in combination with antiestrogenic drugs.
  • Minimizing LAN exposure, especially blue light, may be a strategy to mitigate melatonin suppression and reduce breast cancer risk.
  • Further research into melatonin-based therapies and light-avoidance strategies holds promise for breast cancer prevention and treatment.