Melatonin as an adjunctive therapy for cancer

Melatonin, an over-the-counter food supplement available in most drugstores, has been used with conventional anticancer therapy in more than a dozen clinical studies. Results have been surprisingly good so far, although these researches must be considered preliminary.

These studies suggest that melatonin may enhance the effectiveness of standard therapy for breast cancer, prostate cancer, brain glioblastomas, non—small-cell lung cancer, and other forms of cancer.

A scientifically designed, double-blind study on 30 people with advanced brain tumors suggested that melatonin might prolong life and also improve the quality of life. Professors P. Lissoni, S. Meregalli and L. Nosetto published in the prestigious Oncology journal their clinical trial showing increased survival time in brain tumor (glioblastomas) by radiotherapy plus melatonin, compared to radiotherapy alone.

Participants received standard radiation treatment with or without 20 mg daily of melatonin. After one year, six of 14 individuals in the melatonin group were still alive, compared with just one of 16 from the control group.

The melatonin group also had fewer side effects due to the radiation treatment – a notable improvement in their quality of life.

Improvements in symptoms of cancer patients and a possible improvement in survival were also seen in various other studies published in reputable international journals.

In these studies, melatonin was used as adjunctive therapy with standard anticancer therapy, either chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Patients receiving melatonin showed more significant benefits in terms of enhanced survival and/or less side-effects to the anticancer therapies.

Researchers B. Neri, V. de Leonardis and M.T. Gemelli stated in their paper published in the Anticancer Research journal that melatonin is a biological response modifier in cancer patients.

Other cancer experts explain that melatonin appears to work by increasing levels of the body’s own tumor-fighting proteins, known as cytokines.

In test-tube and animal experiments, researchers have found that melatonin protects cells, strengthens the immune system, slows the growth of some tumors, and protects the heart and blood vessels.

Tests with laboratory mice suggest that melatonin might also reduce the effects of aging and enhance sexual function, but scientists caution that these results are very preliminary and still not conclusive. Experts agree though that the preliminary findings are exciting and promising.

Regarding the question if melatonin can extend lifespan, in tests on both rats and mice, melatonin caused a significant 20 percent increase in their lifespan.

There are, however, no human studies to support this contention, but if a similar effect is present in humans, this could translate into an additional 10 to14 years of additional lifespan.

Experts believe that if melatonin does allow one to live longer and healthier, it is likely due to melatonin’s benefit of reducing free radical damage, stimulating an aging immune system, protecting the cardiovascular system, preserving a youthful circadian rhythm, and helping prevent cancer.

Aside from melatonin’s potential anticancer and anti-aging effects, a 1995 rodent study suggests that taking small amounts of melatonin on a regular basis may prevent the age-related decline in testosterone levels, allowing men to be more active sexually in their later years.

According to Francis Melegrito, marketing director of Trianon International which distributes Melatonin-T capsules locally, although melatonin has been shown to be safe in past studies even if taken in big doses, women who are pregnant or nursing, and people with severe allergies or autoimmune diseases should not take it.

Women trying to conceive should also think twice about taking the hormone since high doses (25-30 times the usual dose) can act as a contraceptive. Those with any concomitant medical condition should consult their physician first before taking melatonin.

Trianon Melatonin-T is available as an over-the-counter supplement in Mercury, Watson and other leading drug stores nationwide. The brand has received several awards locally for marketing excellence.