Melatonin as a potential anticarcinogen for non-small-cell lung cancer.
Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a leading cause of death from cancer worldwide. Melatonin, an indoleamine discovered in the pineal gland, exerts pleiotropic anticancer effects against a variety of cancer types. In particular, melatonin may be an important anticancer drug in the treatment of NSCLC. Herein, we review the correlation between the disruption of the melatonin rhythm and NSCLC incidence; we also evaluate the evidence related to the effects of melatonin in inhibiting lung carcinogenesis. Special focus is placed on the oncostatic effects of melatonin, including anti-proliferation, induction of apoptosis, inhibition of invasion and metastasis, and enhancement of immunomodulation. We suggest the drug synergy of melatonin with radio- or chemotherapy for NSCLC could prove to be useful. Taken together, the information complied herein may serve as a comprehensive reference for the anticancer mechanisms of melatonin against NSCLC, and may be helpful for the design of future experimental research and for advancing melatonin as a therapeutic agent for NSCLC.
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Zhiqiang
Z
Ma
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.|Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Yang
Y
Yang
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Chongxi
C
Fan
Department of Ophthalmology, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Jing
J
Han
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Dongjin
D
Wang
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Shouyin
S
Di
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Wei
W
Hu
State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Dong
D
Liu
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Xiaofei
X
Li
Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA.
Russel J
RJ
Reiter
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Xiaolong
X
Yan
D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use
D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D008550:Melatonin
drug synergy; melatonin; non-small-cell lung cancer; oncostatic effects; potential directions