title: Antihistamines as promising drugs in cancer therapy.
abstract: Histamine is a biogenic amine, synthetized and released by mast cells, which acts as a vasodilator in several pathologic processes, namely in allergies and conjunctivitis. Its role on cancer is not fully understood. High levels of histamine have been associated with a bivalent behavior in regulation of several tumors (i.e. cervical, ovarian, vaginal, uterine, vulvar, colorectal cancer, and melanoma), promoting or inhibiting their growth. Histamine receptors (H1, H2, H3 and H4) are present in a vast group of cells, including tumor cells, making them sensitive to histamine variations. In this work, we review the role of mast cells and histamine on cancer development and the possibility of use antihistamines in the clinical management of this disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, UTAD, 5001-911 Vila Real, Portugal; Organic Chemistry, Natural Products and Foodstuffs (QOPNA), Mass Spectrometry Center, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; Animal and Veterinary Research Center (CECAV), School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, UTAD, 5001-911 Vila Real, Portugal; Center for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), UTAD, 5001-911 Vila Real, Portugal. Electronic address: anafaustino.faustino@sapo.pt.
authors.forename: Ana I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Faustino-Rocha
authors.affiliation: Organic Chemistry, Natural Products and Foodstuffs (QOPNA), Mass Spectrometry Center, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, UTAD, 5001-911 Vila Real, Portugal; Animal and Veterinary Research Center (CECAV), School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, UTAD, 5001-911 Vila Real, Portugal.
authors.forename: Adelina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gama
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, UTAD, 5001-911 Vila Real, Portugal; Center for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), UTAD, 5001-911 Vila Real, Portugal.
authors.forename: Paula A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, UTAD, 5001-911 Vila Real, Portugal; Center for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), UTAD, 5001-911 Vila Real, Portugal.
authors.forename: Mário
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ginja
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D006633:Histamine Antagonists
keywords: Cancer therapy; Histamine; Histamine receptors; Mast cell; Microenvironment; Tumor