title: Melatonin and steroid-dependent carcinomas.
abstract: In this study the concentrations of plasma melatonin in patients with either prostatic or breast carcinoma were compared to the levels of controls. The mean melatonin was statistically lower in patients with breast cancer as compared to controls (p less than 0.005). In prostatic carcinoma patients, the mean melatonin was statistically higher than in the control group (p less than 0.005). From the results it would seem that low melatonin levels could possibly play a role in breast carcinoma, but the same did not necessarily applied to prostatic cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of the Orange Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Oosthuizen
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Bornman
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Barnard
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Schulenburg
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boomker
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reif
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000097:blood*; D004967:Estrogens; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000097:blood*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D004967:Estrogens; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011388:Prolactin; D008550:Melatonin