The long-recognized fact that oxidative stress within mitochondria is a hallmark of
mitochondrial dysfunction has stimulated the development of mitochondria-targeted
antioxidant therapies.
Melatonin should be included among the pharmacological agents able to modulate mitochondrial functions in
cancer, given that a number of relevant
melatonin-dependent effects are triggered by targeting mitochondrial functions. Indeed,
melatonin may modulate the mitochondrial respiratory chain, thus antagonizing the
cancer highly glycolytic bioenergetic pathway of
cancer cells. Modulation of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, together with Ca2+ release and mitochondrial apoptotic effectors, may enhance the spontaneous or drug-induced apoptotic processes. Given that
melatonin may efficiently counteract the Warburg effect while stimulating mitochondrial differentiation and mitochondrial-based apoptosis, it is argued that the pineal
neurohormone could represent a promising new perspective in
cancer treatment strategy.