Melatonin and its importance in Breast cancer prevention and treatment (A purposed review article)

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

1 Assistant professor, Department of Molecular Cellular Biology, Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

2 Assistant professor, Department of Hematology, School of Paramedics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

3 M.Sc. of Midwifery, Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

4 M.Sc. of Microbiology, Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

5 M.Sc. of Biophysics, Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

6 M.Sc. of Psychology, Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

7 Professor, Department of cancer surgery, Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: Breast cancer is always one of the most important difficulties in women's health that causes serious physical، mental and economical harms for the patient and her family. Nowadays, molecular therapies have been considered by the researchers. Used drugs act through different molecular mechanisms and prevents from breast cancer developing; a lot of proteins play a role in these mechanisms including melatonin has a specific role. For this reason, recognizing melatonin functions and executive mechanisms, related genes and orientation with melatonin news and also its benefits in breast cancer will help us to design new and efficient molecular methods in treatment and management of breast cancer. This study was performed with the aim to review recognized mechanisms by melatonin in breast cancer treatment till now.
Methods: To open access the articles, we searched from valid internal and external databases. For research formula, at first, we determine main key words, then equivalent terms were identified, and using appropriate operators, the formula was developed. The results were screened and the relevant articles were selected. Finally, 55 articles about breast cancer molecular biology and Melatonin function mechanism were selected and based on them, the review was done. 
Results: The wide function domain of Melatonin in breast cancer includes induction of apoptosis، telomerase and inhibition of epidermal growth factor bridle in breast cancer, cell cycle inhibition, stimulation of immune system to destroy cancer cells, repair of damaged DNA, the regulation of daily and seasonal rhythm and also angiogenesis inhibition. The role of melatonin as an oncostatics and oncocytotoxic factor leads to believe melatonin application as a supplement factor in breast cancer treatment.
Conclusions: The safety of Melatonin along with its benefits introduces it as a suitable candidate to improve treatment methods for breast cancer patients.

Keywords


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