HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

Modulation of cancer endocrine therapy by melatonin: a phase II study of tamoxifen plus melatonin in metastatic breast cancer patients progressing under tamoxifen alone.

Abstract
Recent observations have shown that the pineal hormone melatonin (MLT) may modulate oestrogen receptor (ER) expression and inhibit breast cancer cell growth. On this basis, we have evaluated the biological and clinical effects of a concomitant MLT therapy in women with metastatic breast cancer who had progressed in response to tamoxifen (TMX) alone. The study included 14 patients with metastasis who did not respond (n = 3) to therapy with TMX alone or progressed after initial stable disease (SD) (n = 11). MLT was given orally at 20 mg day-1 in the evening, every day starting 7 days before TMX, which was given orally at 20 mg day-1 at noon. A partial response was achieved in 4/14 (28.5%) patients (median duration 8 months). The treatment was well tolerated in all cases, and no MLT-induced enhancement of TMX toxicity was seen; on the contrary, most patients experienced a relief of anxiety. Mean serum levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), which is a growth factor for breast cancer, significantly decreased on therapy, and this decline was significantly higher in responders than in patients with SD or progression. This pilot phase II study would suggest that the concomitant administration of the pineal hormone MLT may induce objective tumour regressions in metastatic breast cancer patients refractory to TMX alone.
AuthorsP Lissoni, S Barni, S Meregalli, V Fossati, M Cazzaniga, D Esposti, G Tancini
JournalBritish journal of cancer (Br J Cancer) Vol. 71 Issue 4 Pg. 854-6 (Apr 1995) ISSN: 0007-0920 [Print] England
PMID7710954 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Clinical Trial, Phase II, Comparative Study, Controlled Clinical Trial, Journal Article)
Chemical References
  • Tamoxifen
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
  • Melatonin
Topics
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Breast Neoplasms (blood, therapy)
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I (analysis)
  • Melatonin (therapeutic use, toxicity)
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Tamoxifen (therapeutic use, toxicity)

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: