Abstract
The pineal hormone, melatonin, was examined for its capacity to modulate the proliferation of a panel of human breast cancer cell lines. Melatonin inhibited, to a varying extent, the proliferation of all three estrogen-responsive cell lines, but had no effect on estrogen-insensitive breast tumor cell lines. Melatonin was also able to specifically block estrogen-induced proliferation in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. However, this action was abolished in the presence of tamoxifen. Therefore, it appears that the antiproliferative effects of melatonin are mediated through the estrogen-response pathway.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
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Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
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Breast Neoplasms / pathology
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Cell Division / drug effects
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Drug Interactions
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Estrogen Antagonists / pharmacology*
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Estrogens / physiology*
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Humans
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Melatonin / pharmacology*
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Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / drug therapy*
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Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / pathology
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Receptors, Estrogen / physiology
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Tamoxifen / pharmacology
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Tumor Cells, Cultured / drug effects
Substances
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Antineoplastic Agents
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Estrogen Antagonists
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Estrogens
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Receptors, Estrogen
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Tamoxifen
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Melatonin