title: Therapeutic actions of melatonin on gastrointestinal cancer development and progression.
abstract: Melatonin exerts a multitude of physiological functions including the regulation of the sleep cycle and circadian rhythm. Although the synthesis of melatonin in the pineal gland is regulated by changes in the light/dark cycle, the release of melatonin in the gastrointestinal tract is related to food consumption. Melatonin regulates antioxidative processes and it improves T-helper cell response by stimulating the production of specific cytokines. Melatonin is directly involved in preventing tumor initiation, promotion, and progression in a variety of cancers of the gastrointestinal tract including colorectal cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, hepatocarcinoma, and pancreatic carcinoma. This paper is a review of the literature regarding melatonin in the gastrointestinal tract and as a potential therapy for gastrointestinal cancers.
authors: Rachael
authors: R
authors: Glenister
authors: Kelly
authors: K
authors: McDaniel
authors: Heather
authors: H
authors: Francis
authors: Julie
authors: J
authors: Venter
authors: Kendal
authors: K
authors: Jensen
authors: Giuseppina
authors: G
authors: Dusio
authors: Eugenio
authors: E
authors: Gaudio
authors: Shannon
authors: S
authors: Glaser
authors: Fanyin
authors: F
authors: Meng
authors: Gianfranco
authors: G
authors: Alpini
keywords: Gastrointestinal cancer; T-helper cell; cholangiocarcinoma; colorectal cancer; hepatocarcinoma; melatonin; pancreatic cancer