After reported a melatonin’s gel that protects normal cells
from oral mucositis induced by radio- or chemotherapy,
we wondered about how melatonin affects tumoral cells.
It is well known that both radio- and chemotherapy act at
different intracellular levels such as nucleus, membranes
and mitochondria. On the other hand, mitochondrion is
the main melatonin target. So we evaluated here whether
melatonin can synergize with radio- or cisplatin- therapies
to enhance the cytotoxic effects of these treatments
The in vitro results showed a rise in the treatment toxicity
in a melatonin dose-dependent manner, potentiating the
cytotoxic effects of the radio- and the chemotherapy.
Melatonin also acts inhibiting the tumor growth in vivo
High melatonin concentrations enhance the cytotoxicity of
radiotherapy and the chemotherapeutics in head and neck
human cancer