title: The pineal gland and cancer.
abstract: The pineal gland is considered today as one of the main organs involved in the transduction process which converts environmental light information into an endocrine response. The gland and its hormone melatonin seem to be important chronoimmunomodulators, and a reduction of the latter was associated with experimental and clinical immunodeficiencies and over the control of the neoplastic process. Moreover, melatonin can be an oncostatic or oncostimulating hormone, depending on the timing of its administration. The melatonin circadian rhythm is altered in cancer patients, and this rhythm could be modified as a consequence of certain therapies. Also Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) can affect the pineal function, perhaps working as synchronizers or, as this paper proposes, also through action of the "antenna effect" suggested for artificial human models, with a major energetic transfer over the cephalic area. The pineal could play an important role in the appearance and development of some forms of apparently EMF-related cancers.
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Registry, National Institute of Oncology, Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Ronco
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Halberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D008550:Melatonin