Melatonin's growth-inhibitory effect on hepatoma AH 130 in the rat.
We tested the effects of daily melatonin treatment on the growth of the ascites hepatoma in rats, determining survival time, cell number and cell cycle phases at various stages of tumor development. Melatonin inhibited cellular proliferation, doubled mean life-time and increased survival. Thymidine incorporation in hepatoma cells from treated rats decreased significantly without changes in the apoptotic index. Flow cytometric analysis showed that melatonin slowed cell cycle progression by increasing the number of cells in phase G0G1. Thus, similar to in vitro models, melatonin's oncostatic action in vivo appears to be directed to specific cell cycle mechanisms, which remain to be elucidated.
Cini
G
G
Institute of General Pathology, University of Florence, Italy.
Coronnello
M
M
Mini
E
E
Neri
B
B
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D008550:Melatonin