Oncostatic activities of melatonin: Roles in cell cycle, apoptosis, and autophagy

Melatonin, the major secretory product of the pineal gland, not only regulates circadian rhythms, mood, and sleep but also has actions in neoplastic processes which are being intensively investigated. Melatonin is a promising molecule which considered a differentiating agent in some cancer cells at both physiological and pharmacological concentrations. It can also reduce invasive and metastatic status through receptors MT1 and MT2 cytosolic binding sites, including calmodulin and quinone reductase II enzyme, and nuclear receptors related to orphan members of the superfamily RZR/ROR. Melatonin exerts oncostatic functions in numerous human malignancies. An increasing number of studies report that melatonin reduces the invasiveness of several human cancers such as prostate cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer, oral cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, etc. Moreover, melatonin's oncostatic activities are exerted through different biological processes including antiproliferative actions, stimulation of anticancer immunity, modulation of the cell cycle, apoptosis, autophagy, the modulation of oncogene expression, and via antiangiogenic effects. This review focuses on the oncostatic activities of melatonin that targeted cell cycle control, with special attention to its modulatory effects on the key regulators of the cell cycle, apoptosis, and telomerase activity.(c) 2022 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Automated summary

Melatonin, as the main secretory product of the pineal gland, not only regulates circadian rhythms, mood, and sleep, but also plays a role in the regulation of neoplastic processes. It can act as a differentiating agent in some cancer cells and reduce the invasive and metastatic status through cytosolic binding sites and nuclear receptors. Melatonin has oncostatic functions and can reduce the invasiveness of various human cancers. It exerts its effects through different biological processes such as antiproliferation, stimulation of anticancer immunity, modulation of the cell cycle, apoptosis, autophagy, modulation of oncogene expression, and antiangiogenesis.