A randomized controlled trial of oral melatonin supplementation and breast cancer biomarkers

Riferimento: 
Cancer Causes Control. 2012 Apr;23(4):609-16.
Autori: 
Schernhammer ES, Giobbie-Hurder A, Gantman K, Savoie J, Scheib R, Parker LM, Chen WY.
Fonte: 
Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 181 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA, eva.schernhammer@channing.harvard.edu.
Anno: 
2012
Azione: 
Effects of melatonin supplementation (3 mg oral melatonin, daily for 4 months) in postmenopausal breast cancer survivors.
Target: 
Estradiol-lowering effects of melatonin.

Abstract

Abstract

We examined compliance with and the effects of melatonin supplementation on breast cancer biomarkers (estradiol, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1), insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3), and the IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio) in postmenopausal breast cancer survivors. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, postmenopausal women with a prior history of stages 0-III breast cancer who had completed active cancer treatment (including hormonal therapy) were randomly assigned to either 3 mg oral melatonin (n=48) or placebo daily for 4 months. Plasma samples were collected at baseline and after the completion of the intervention. The primary endpoints were compliance and change in estradiol and IGF-1/IGFBP-3 levels. Ninety-five women were randomized (48 to melatonin and 47 to placebo). Eighty-six women (91%) completed the study and provided pre- and postintervention bloods. Melatonin was well tolerated without any grade 3/4 toxicity and compliance was high (89.5%). Overall, among postmenopausal women with a prior history of breast cancer, a 4-month course of 3mg melatonin daily did not influence circulating estradiol, IGF-1, or IGFBP-3 levels. Compliance was comparable between the two groups. Short-term melatonin treatment did not influence the estradiol and IGF-1/IGBBP-3 levels. Effects of longer courses of melatonin among premenopausal women are unknown. Low baseline estradiol levels in our study population may have hindered the ability to detect any further estradiol-lowering effects of melatonin.

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