Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
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Melatonin and cancer: it’s nothing to yawn at

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posted on 2023-08-03, 15:08 authored by Gurtej Singh

Sleep plays a vital role in health and well-being. Melatonin, a hormone secreted from the pineal gland, is integral to sleep induction and maintenance. Melatonin secretion increases after the onset of darkness, peaks in the middle of the night, and gradually falls during the second half of the night. Exogenous preparations are widely marketed in the treatment of jet lag and insomnia. Melatonin’s actions extend beyond sleep induction and include complex signalling pathways that induce cell protection, inhibit angiogenesis, and stimulate endogenous immunomodulators. Recent studies have indicated that women who work night shifts (and therefore have decreased levels of melatonin) are at an increased risk of breast cancer. Researchers have begun to exploit this association by supplementing chemotherapeutic and supportive cancer therapies with melatonin and have had largely positive results. However, the majority of trials are by a single group of researchers and external validation is needed. Initial results from the Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) and National Cancer Institute (NCI) have been positive. Further studies should investigate the long-term side effects of melatonin treatment. 

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The original article is available at http://www.rcsismj.com/ Part of the RCSIsmj collection: https://doi.org/10.25419/rcsi.c.6774039.v1

Published Citation

Singh G. Melatonin and cancer: it’s nothing to yawn at. RCSIsmj. 2015;8(1):56-60

Publication Date

2015

Department/Unit

  • Undergraduate Research

Publisher

RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

Version

  • Published Version (Version of Record)

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