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Updated: Sep 19, 2025

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Melatonin Prevents Tumor Growth: The Role of Genes Controlling the Circadian Clock, the Cell Cycle, and Angiogenesis

Skarleth Cardenas-Romero1, Nadia Saderi1, Oscar Daniel Ramirez-Plascencia1

  • 1Laboratorio de Neuroanatomía Funcional y Ritmos Biológicos, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, México.

Journal of Pineal Research
|June 16, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Melatonin may fight cancer by regulating genes involved in circadian rhythms and blood vessel growth. This study shows melatonin inhibits tumor growth in a model of circadian disruption.

Area of Science:

  • Chronobiology
  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Melatonin, a hormone regulating sleep-wake cycles, shows protective effects against various diseases, including cancer.
  • Exposure to light at night disrupts melatonin synthesis, potentially increasing cancer risk, especially in shift workers.
  • Melatonin has demonstrated inhibitory effects on tumor cell proliferation, including glioblastoma-like stem cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of melatonin on gene expression related to circadian rhythm, cell cycle, and angiogenesis in a rat model of circadian disruption.
  • To determine if melatonin administration can counteract the effects of constant light exposure on tumor growth and vascularization.

Main Methods:

  • Rats were exposed to constant light to model circadian disruption.
  • Melatonin was administered to assess its effects on tumor growth, vascularization, and gene expression.
  • Quantitative analysis of gene expression for key regulators of circadian rhythms (Per2), cell cycle (p53), and angiogenesis (VEGF-A, PDGF-C, Ang, TNF-α) was performed.

Main Results:

  • Melatonin administration significantly inhibited tumor growth in rats exposed to constant light.
  • Melatonin reduced tumor vascularization, a process often enhanced by circadian rhythm disturbance.
  • Molecular analysis revealed that melatonin modulated the circadian expression of genes critical for tumor biology, including p53, TNF-α, Per2, VEGF-A, PDGF-C, and Ang.

Conclusions:

  • Circadian disruption contributes to tumor progression, and melatonin can exert oncostatic effects.
  • Melatonin's anticancer mechanisms involve modulating circadian gene expression and inhibiting angiogenesis.
  • Melatonin shows potential as a therapeutic agent for cancers linked to circadian rhythm disruption.
Keywords:
angiogenesiscell cyclecircadian rhythmclock genesglioblastomamelatonin

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