Modulation of the length of the cell cycle time of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells by melatonin.
It has been shown that melatonin has a direct inhibitory effect on the proliferation of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells in culture. In the present work, we studied whether the length of the cell cycle of MCF-7 cells in increased by melatonin. In MCF-7 cells partially synchronized and labelled with [3H]thymidine, melatonin (10(-9)M), added to the culture medium, shifted the period of the labeling index rhythm from 20.36 hours to 23.48 hours. The fact that melatonin significantly increased (p<0.005) the duration of the cell cycle of human breast cancer cells, support the notion that this hormone exerts part of its antitumor effect through a cell-cycle-specific mechanism by delaying the entry of MCF-7 cells into mitosis.
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Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Spain.
Recio
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Sánchez-Barceló
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EJ
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008938:Mitosis / Q000187:drug effects; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D008550:Melatonin; D013936:Thymidine