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Melatonin and Melatonergic Drugs for Therapeutic Use in Breast Cancer

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Melatonin and Melatonergic Drugs in Clinical Practice

Abstract

Melatonin-estradiol interactions at the cellular level explain the effects of melatonin on breast carcinogenesis. The objective of this chapter is to review the mechanisms supporting the usefulness of melatonin in breast cancer therapy, particularly its properties of selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) and selective estrogen enzyme modulator (SEEM), since these properties are probably the best explanation of its oncostatic effects on hormone-dependent breast cancer. Currently, perhaps the most widespread idea about the usefulness of melatonin in the management of breast cancer is that it could be considered as a complement to conventional treatments. Thus, as an adjuvant of SERMs, melatonin could enhance their antiestrogenic actions, whereas in association with SEEMs, melatonin could reduce the osteoporosis induced by these drugs, potentiate their effects, and add its own antiaromatase actions. Melatonin could be used for the relief of some of the symptoms frequently associated with the cancerous process or of those arising during cancer treatment (depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, cognitive dysfunction, etc.). As an adjuvant to chemotherapy treatments (anthracyclines, taxanes, platinum drugs, etc.), melatonin protects against or mitigates the side effects of these drugs and, in some cases, potentiates their oncostatic effects. Administered in conjunction with radiotherapy, melatonin acts as an antioxidant radioprotector. Furthermore, melatonin may prevent breast cancer caused by chronodisruption.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, and Research Institute “Marqués de Valdecilla” (IFIMAV), University of Cantabria, Avd. Herrera Oria s/n, 39011, Santander, Spain

    Emilio J. Sanchez-Barcelo PhD, MD, Maria D. Mediavilla Aguado PhD, MD & Samuel Cos Corral PhD, MD

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  1. Emilio J. Sanchez-Barcelo PhD, MD
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  2. Maria D. Mediavilla Aguado PhD, MD
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  3. Samuel Cos Corral PhD, MD
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Correspondence to Emilio J. Sanchez-Barcelo PhD, MD .

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  1. Sri Sathya Sai Medical Educational and Research Foundation, An International Medical Sciences Research Center, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

    V. Srinivasan

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hadassah Hebrew-University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel

    Amnon Brzezinski

  3. Department of Physiology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey

    Sukru Oter

  4. Department of Psychiatry Behavioral Sciences, Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, Georgia, USA

    Samuel D. Shillcutt

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Sanchez-Barcelo, E.J., Aguado, M.D.M., Corral, S.C. (2014). Melatonin and Melatonergic Drugs for Therapeutic Use in Breast Cancer. In: Srinivasan, V., Brzezinski, A., Oter, S., Shillcutt, S. (eds) Melatonin and Melatonergic Drugs in Clinical Practice. Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-0825-9_11

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