Melatonin enhanced bexarotene efficacy in experimental mammary carcinogenesis

The aim of this paper was to test lower, safe bexarotene dose administered alone and in combination with melatonin to improve its efficacy. Mammary carcinogenesis was induced by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea in female Sprague-Dawley rats, administered in two doses intraperitoneally between 42.-54. postnatal days and chemoprevention was initiated 7 days prior to first N-methyl-N-nitrosourea injection and lasted 15 weeks. Bexarotene, particularly in combination with melatonin decreased mammary tumor incidence and frequency with a shift from poorly to well differentiated carcinomas. Bexarotene alleviated glycaemia and liver/heart muscle glycogen concentration decreased as well as liver/thymus malondialdehyde increased in comparison with control group. The combination of bexarotene and melatonin is therefore beneficial in preventive-curative model of experimental mammary carcinogenesis and may be applied in oncological practice as such.