Melatonin & its Potential in Cancer Treatment? Rachel Devine
I want to start out by saying, I am not a medical professional or adviser, nor do I have a medical background; my expertise lies in writing. However, I have come across compelling information about melatonin and its impact on cancer cells. As a writer, I feel compelled to share what I’ve learned to inform others.
Let me preface this by sharing a personal story: My 97-year-old relative was diagnosed with liver cancer and underwent immunotherapy. She could only tolerate four sessions due to severe weakness and fatigue. Another relative conducted extensive research using AI and discovered clinical studies suggesting that high doses of melatonin may halt the spread of cancer. For four months, he administered high doses of melatonin to his grandmother, and remarkably, her liver cancer biomarkers decreased by 35%—an incredible and inspiring result. There were minimal side effects.
So, what do clinical studies show? I consulted Grok, X’s AI (Artificial Intelligence), and the following valuable information comes from that resource:
Melatonin and Its Potential in Cancer Treatment: Insights from Clinical Studies
What is Melatonin?
Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland in the brain, primarily at night, to regulate the sleep-wake cycle. It acts as a potent antioxidant, free radical scavenger, and immunomodulatory agent, influencing circadian rhythms, immune function, and cellular processes. Available as an over-the-counter supplement, melatonin is widely studied for its potential therapeutic effects beyond sleep regulation.
Clinical Evidence on Melatonin’s Effects in Cancer Patients
Clinical studies over the past decade suggest melatonin offers multiple benefits for cancer patients, particularly as an adjuvant therapy alongside conventional treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Key findings include:
Enhanced Treatment Efficacy: Melatonin improves tumor regression and survival rates when combined with standard cancer therapies. A meta-analysis of five clinical studies involving 1,321 patients with various solid tumors found a significantly higher one-year survival rate (21.79% vs. 9.39%) in those treated with melatonin alongside chemotherapy compared to chemotherapy alone (RR = 2.31, 95% CI, 1.78–2.99). Studies also indicate melatonin enhances the effects of drugs like cisplatin, etoposide, and tamoxifen in cancers such as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), breast cancer, and colorectal cancer.
Reduction of Treatment Side Effects: Melatonin mitigates chemotherapy- and radiotherapy-induced toxicities. In a randomized trial, melatonin (1 mg/day) combined with a Mediterranean diet reduced cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer patients. It also lowered the incidence of side effects like asthenia (18.91% vs. 43.50% in controls), mucositis, anemia, and neurotoxicity in various cancers, including head and neck and gastrointestinal cancers.
Improved Quality of Life: Melatonin enhances sleep quality, reduces depressive symptoms, and improves cognitive function in cancer patients. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial showed that 6 mg of oral melatonin significantly improved sleep efficiency and reduced postoperative depressive symptoms in breast cancer patients. Another study reported better cognitive flexibility and verbal fluency in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Potential Anticancer Mechanisms: While not fully incorporated into standard treatment, melatonin exhibits properties like inhibiting cancer cell proliferation, inducing apoptosis, and reducing metastasis in preclinical studies. Clinical trials suggest it may modulate DNA methylation and reverse chemoresistance in breast cancer. However, results are inconsistent when melatonin is used alone, with some studies showing no significant impact on cancer markers or fatigue in advanced cancers.
Specific Cancer Applications: Melatonin shows promise in glioblastoma, where it enhanced radiotherapy’s effects and improved one-year survival rates when combined with 60 Gy of radiation. In metastatic colorectal cancer, melatonin with low-dose IL-2 increased one-year survival compared to 5-FU alone. For breast cancer, it improved tumor remission and sleep quality but did not consistently affect hormone levels like estradiol or IGF-1.
Conclusion
Melatonin is a promising adjuvant in cancer treatment, enhancing the efficacy of conventional therapies, reducing side effects, and improving patients’ quality of life. Its antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties contribute to its potential anticancer effects, though inconsistent results and varying dosages highlight the need for further large-scale, well-controlled clinical trials to establish its role in standard care. For detailed trial information, refer to ClinicalTrials.gov, which lists 46 studies on melatonin in cancer treatment, with 24 completed.
Note: Always consult a healthcare provider before using melatonin during cancer treatment, as its interaction with other medications requires careful consideration.
Can Melatonin Prevent Cancer? Here is Grok’s Answer:
Melatonin’s Potential in Cancer Prevention: Clinical Evidence
While melatonin’s role as an adjuvant therapy in cancer treatment is better studied, its potential for cancer prevention is less conclusive, with limited clinical studies directly addressing prevention in healthy populations. Below is a concise summary based on available research:
Clinical Studies on Melatonin for Cancer Prevention
Epidemiological and Observational Data: Studies suggest an inverse relationship between melatonin levels and cancer risk. For instance, higher melatonin production (measured via urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin) is linked to a 30–40% lower breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women (e.g., a Nurses’ Health Study cohort). Night-shift workers with disrupted melatonin production have a higher risk of breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers, suggesting melatonin’s protective role.
Interventional Trials: Few clinical trials directly test melatonin for primary cancer prevention in healthy individuals. A small, randomized trial in women with high breast cancer risk (due to family history) found that 3 mg/day melatonin for 6 months reduced biomarkers of oxidative stress and DNA damage, which are linked to cancer initiation, but no cancer incidence data were reported. Another study in men with elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels showed that 3 mg/day melatonin stabilized PSA levels in some, potentially delaying prostate cancer progression, but it wasn’t a prevention trial.
Mechanistic Support: Preclinical and in vitro studies indicate melatonin may prevent cancer by scavenging free radicals, reducing DNA damage, modulating estrogen metabolism (relevant to breast cancer), and inhibiting cell proliferation. These mechanisms suggest a preventive role, but clinical translation is limited.
Ongoing Research: ClinicalTrials.gov lists no large-scale, completed trials specifically on melatonin for primary cancer prevention. Some ongoing studies explore melatonin’s effects on cancer biomarkers in high-risk groups (e.g., BRCA mutation carriers), but results are pending.
Limitations
Most evidence is indirect (e.g., from observational studies or treatment trials).
No large, randomized controlled trials confirm melatonin’s efficacy in preventing cancer in healthy populations.
Optimal dosages, timing, and long-term safety for prevention remain unclear.
Conclusion
Melatonin shows theoretical promise for cancer prevention due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hormonal regulatory effects, supported by observational data and small-scale studies. However, there’s insufficient clinical evidence to recommend it as a preventive agent for the general population. High-risk individuals (e.g., those with family history or night-shift workers) may warrant further study, but consult a healthcare provider before using melatonin for this purpose.
Note: For more details, check ClinicalTrials.gov for ongoing studies or consult recent reviews on PubMed. Always discuss with a doctor before starting melatonin, especially for long-term use.
Resources:
The clinical trials referenced for melatonin in cancer treatment are sourced primarily from reviews and meta-analyses that aggregate data from ClinicalTrials.gov. Below are key links to access the relevant clinical trial information:
ClinicalTrials.gov Database: A comprehensive review analyzed 46 clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov up to January 17, 2024, focusing on melatonin in cancer treatment. Search for these trials using terms like “melatonin,” “cancer,” “neoplasms,” “tumor,” “malignancies,” or “oncology.”
Link: ClinicalTrials.gov
To replicate the search, enter the above terms in the search bar and filter for interventional and observational studies related to cancer. As of the review, 24 trials were completed, and 5 were recruiting.
Specific Trials Mentioned:
Melatonin in Breast Cancer Survivors (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute): This trial (Protocol #05-305) investigated melatonin’s effects on estrogen and IGF levels in breast cancer survivors.
Melatonin for NSCLC Recurrence (AMPLCaRe): A randomized placebo-controlled trial (NCT00668707) evaluating melatonin’s effect on disease-free survival post-lung cancer resection.
Melatonin for Delirium Prevention in Advanced Cancer: A feasibility study (NCT02200172) assessing melatonin’s role in preventing delirium in palliative care patients.
Published Reviews with Trial Summaries:
For a detailed overview of the 46 trials, refer to the review article “A review of the potential use of melatonin in cancer treatment: Data analysis from Clinicaltrials.gov” on PubMed Central.
Link: PMC Article
Another review, “Melatonin in Cancer Treatment: Current Knowledge and Future Opportunities,” summarizes clinical trials and can be accessed for additional trial references.
Link: PMC Article
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. While clinical studies suggest potential benefits of melatonin in cancer treatment and prevention, the evidence is not conclusive, and melatonin is not a substitute for professional medical care or standard cancer therapies. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting melatonin or any supplement, especially if you have a medical condition, are undergoing cancer treatment, or are taking other medications. The author and publisher are not responsible for any adverse effects or consequences resulting from the use of information in this article.