Michelle Basler1, Alexander Jetter2, Daniel Fink3, Burkhardt Seifert4, Gerd A Kullak-Ublick2, Andreas Trojan5. 1. Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland ; Department of Gynecology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. 2. Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. 3. Department of Gynecology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. 4. Division of Biostatistics, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. 5. Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland ; Breast-Center Zürich and Onkozentrum Klinik im Park, Zurich, Switzerland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Melatonin is an endocrine hormone secreted by the pineal gland during night hours that provides several biological functions in the circadian rhythm of humans. Due to anti-estrogenic properties, melatonin is considered to exhibit a protective role against the development of breast cancer (BC). Moreover, disruption of melatonin production through environmental influences, such as night work, is assumed to be a risk factor for BC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed recent findings concerning biological effects of melatonin on BC and conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the association between melatonin and BC incidence. In random and fixed effects statistical models, concentrations (tertiles, quartiles) of the primary urinary metabolite of melatonin, 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6s), were tested for the assumption that women with the highest values would exhibit a lower risk of BC. RESULTS: Statistical analysis of data from 5 prospective case-control studies indicates an inverse association between BC risk and the highest levels of urinary aMT6s. This effect seems to be influenced by lag intervals between aMT6s collection and the occurrence of BC, timing and methods of urine sampling, as well as genetic and environmental factors. CONCLUSION: On the basis of the results of our meta-analysis, melatonin is likely to affect BC occurrence in women. However, methodological dissonances may require further studies.
BACKGROUND:Melatonin is an endocrine hormone secreted by the pineal gland during night hours that provides several biological functions in the circadian rhythm of humans. Due to anti-estrogenic properties, melatonin is considered to exhibit a protective role against the development of breast cancer (BC). Moreover, disruption of melatonin production through environmental influences, such as night work, is assumed to be a risk factor for BC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed recent findings concerning biological effects of melatonin on BC and conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the association between melatonin and BC incidence. In random and fixed effects statistical models, concentrations (tertiles, quartiles) of the primary urinary metabolite of melatonin, 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6s), were tested for the assumption that women with the highest values would exhibit a lower risk of BC. RESULTS: Statistical analysis of data from 5 prospective case-control studies indicates an inverse association between BC risk and the highest levels of urinary aMT6s. This effect seems to be influenced by lag intervals between aMT6s collection and the occurrence of BC, timing and methods of urine sampling, as well as genetic and environmental factors. CONCLUSION: On the basis of the results of our meta-analysis, melatonin is likely to affect BC occurrence in women. However, methodological dissonances may require further studies.
Entities:
Keywords:
Breast cancer; Melatonin; Meta-analysis; Urinary excretion; aMT6s
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