title: Oxytocin has therapeutic effects on cancer, a hypothesis.
abstract: Oxytocin (OT) is the first peptide hormone structurally assessed and chemically synthesized in biologically active form. This hormone acts as an important factor in a human reproductive system particularly during pregnancy and lactation in women. So far, different therapeutic roles for OT have been identified as a spectrum from central and peripheral actions on male and female reproductive systems, circulatory system, musculoskeletal system, etc. Some in vitro and in vivo studies also revealed that OT is responsible for bivariate biological functions involved in cancer as following. By activating OT receptor in tumoral cells, OT enacts as a growth regulator, whether activator or inhibitor. Regarding the increase of OT in some conditions such as breastfeeding, exercise, and multiparity, we can relate the effect of these conditions on cancer with OT effects. Based on this hypothesis, we present a review on the effects of this neuropeptide on various types of cancer and also the influence of these conditions on the same cancer.
authors.affiliation: Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Hossein
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Imanieh
authors.affiliation: Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Fereshte
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bagheri
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, PO Box 1419733141, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: aalizadeh@razi.tums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Ali Mohammad
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Alizadeh
authors.affiliation: Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Soheil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ashkani-Esfahani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin / Q000819:agonists / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin; D010121:Oxytocin
keywords: Cancer; Neuropeptide; Oxytocin; Review