褪黑素抗肿瘤作用及其机制的研究进展

Melatonin in the treatment of cancer and its mechanism

褪黑素(melatonin,MT)是主要由松果腺分泌的神经内分泌激素,具有调节生理节奏、免疫调节、抗氧化和抗炎等多种生理功能。近年来大量文献表明MT具有抗肿瘤和化学预防作用,MT的抗肿瘤作用研究已经成为热点,其中包括对乳腺癌、黑色素瘤、结肠癌和前列腺癌等肿瘤的研究。证据表明多种机制参与了MT的抗肿瘤作用,例如干扰雌激素的信号转导和影响端粒酶活性等。MT不仅具有单独的抑瘤作用,而且在肿瘤辅助治疗中具有增效、降毒作用。

Melatonin, a neuroendoerine hormone secreted by the pineal gland, is involved in numerous physiological processes including circadian rhythms, immune function, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. This overview summarizes the growing evidences of melatonin as a promising agent for cancer treatment and possible cancer prevention. To date, the chemopreventive, oncostatic, and tumor inhibitory effects of melatonin have become a hot area of investigation, particularly in breast cancer,melanoma, colon cancer, lung cancer and prostatic carcinoma. Multiple mechanisms including interacting with the estrogen-signaling pathways and affecting telomerase activation have been suggested for the biological effects of melatonin. Melatonin not only seems to control development alone but is highlighted in increasing the efficacy and decreasing the side effects of chemotherapy when used in adjuvant therapeutics.