Metabolic Anti-Cancer Effects of Melatonin: Clinically Relevant Prospects

Overview

Journal Cancers (Basel)

Publisher MDPI

Specialty Oncology

Date 2021 Jul 2

PMID 34208645

Citations 9

Authors

Marek Samec

Alena Liskova

Lenka Koklesova

Kevin Zhai

Elizabeth Varghese

Samson Mathews Samuel

Miroslava Sudomova

Vincent Lucansky

Monika Kassayova

Martin Pec

Kamil Biringer

Aranka Brockmueller

Karol Kajo

Sherif T S Hassan

Mehdi Shakibaei

Olga Golubnitschaja

Dietrich Busselberg

Peter Kubatka

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Metabolic reprogramming characterized by alterations in nutrient uptake and critical molecular pathways associated with cancer cell metabolism represents a fundamental process of malignant transformation. Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is a hormone secreted by the pineal gland. Melatonin primarily regulates circadian rhythms but also exerts anti-inflammatory, anti-depressant, antioxidant and anti-tumor activities. Concerning cancer metabolism, melatonin displays significant anticancer effects via the regulation of key components of aerobic glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) and lipid metabolism. Melatonin treatment affects glucose transporter (GLUT) expression, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) activity, lactate production and other metabolic contributors. Moreover, melatonin modulates critical players in cancer development, such as HIF-1 and p53. Taken together, melatonin has notable anti-cancer effects at malignancy initiation, progression and metastasing. Further investigations of melatonin impacts relevant for cancer metabolism are expected to create innovative approaches supportive for the effective prevention and targeted therapy of cancers.

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