Melatonin: A Molecule for Reducing Breast Cancer Risk
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicina, University of Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain
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Molecules 2018, 23(2), 336; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23020336
Received: 9 January 2018 / Revised: 31 January 2018 / Accepted: 31 January 2018 / Published: 6 February 2018
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Melatonin as an Antioxidant and a Functionally Pleiotropic Molecule: Synthesis, Metabolism and Activities in Organisms)
The objective of this article is to review the basis supporting the usefulness of melatonin as an adjuvant therapy for breast cancer (BC) prevention in several groups of individuals at high risk for this disease. Melatonin, as a result of its antiestrogenic and antioxidant properties, as well as its ability to improve the efficacy and reduce the side effects of conventional antiestrogens, could safely be associated with the antiestrogenic drugs presently in use. In individuals at risk of BC due to night shift work, the light-induced inhibition of melatonin secretion, with the consequent loss of its antiestrogenic effects, would be countered by administering this neurohormone. BC risk from exposure to metalloestrogens, such as cadmium, could be treated with melatonin supplements to individuals at risk of BC due to exposure to this xenoestrogen. The BC risk related to obesity may be reduced by melatonin which decrease body fat mass, inhibits the enhanced aromatase expression in obese women, increases adiponectin secretion, counteracts the oncogenic effects of elevated concentrations of leptin; and decreases blood glucose levels and insulin resistance. Despite compelling experimental evidence of melatonin’s oncostatic actions being susceptible to lowering BC risk, there is still a paucity of clinical trials focused on this subject.
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Keywords:
melatonin; breast cancer risk; antiestrogens; light-at-night; shift work; metalloestrogens; cadmium; obesity
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MDPI and ACS Style
González-González, A.; Mediavilla, M.D.; Sánchez-Barceló, E.J. Melatonin: A Molecule for Reducing Breast Cancer Risk. Molecules 2018, 23, 336. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23020336
AMA Style
González-González A, Mediavilla MD, Sánchez-Barceló EJ. Melatonin: A Molecule for Reducing Breast Cancer Risk. Molecules. 2018; 23(2):336. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23020336
Chicago/Turabian StyleGonzález-González, Alicia; Mediavilla, María D.; Sánchez-Barceló, Emilio J. 2018. "Melatonin: A Molecule for Reducing Breast Cancer Risk" Molecules 23, no. 2: 336. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23020336
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