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Updated: Nov 3, 2025

Gene Regulation and Targeted Therapy in Gastric Cancer Peritoneal Metastasis: Radiological Findings from Dual Energy CT and PET/CT
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Molecular targets for the management of gastrointestinal cancer using melatonin, a natural endogenous body hormone

Zeynab Kohandel1, Tahereh Farkhondeh2, Michael Aschner3

  • 1Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Tehran, Iran.

Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & Pharmacotherapie
|June 4, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Melatonin, a natural hormone, shows significant anti-cancer properties against gastrointestinal cancers. This review explores its therapeutic potential and molecular mechanisms, suggesting melatonin as a viable cancer treatment option.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Endocrinology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Gastrointestinal cancer is a leading global health concern.
  • Melatonin, a natural hormone, exhibits promising anti-cancer effects.
  • Its mechanisms involve regulating key proteins and pathways involved in cancer progression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the anti-cancer efficacies of melatonin.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying melatonin's anti-cancer actions.
  • To evaluate the therapeutic potential of melatonin for gastrointestinal cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive review of in vivo, in vitro, and clinical studies.
  • Analysis of melatonin's effects on cancer cell proliferation, metastasis, apoptosis, and angiogenesis.
  • Investigation of melatonin's interactions with specific proteins (e.g., Bax, Bcl-2, ECE-1) and nuclear receptors (e.g., RORα/RZR).

Main Results:

  • Melatonin demonstrates antiproliferative, antimetastatic, and cytotoxic effects.
  • It induces apoptosis by regulating Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2).
  • Melatonin modulates angiogenesis via endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE-1) and affects cytoplasmic and nuclear proteins.

Conclusions:

  • Melatonin possesses significant anti-cancer properties relevant to gastrointestinal cancer.
  • Its multifaceted molecular mechanisms support its therapeutic potential.
  • Further clinical investigation into therapeutic melatonin administration for cancer is warranted.
Keywords:
Anti-proliferativeGastrointestinal cancerMelatoninMolecular target

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