Synchronization of cortisol circadian rhythm by the pineal hormone melatonin in untreatable metastatic solid tumor patients and its possible prognostic significance on tumor progression.
In Vivo
; 24(2): 239-41, 2010.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-20364003
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Cancer progression has been associated with neuroendocrine alterations involved in the control of the circadian rhythms, particularly those of cortisol. Moreover, the evidence of an altered cortisol rhythm may predict a poor prognosis in cancer patients. Finally, cancer progression has been proven to be associated with alterations in the pineal gland, which plays a fundamental role in the control of circadian biological rhythms. On this basis, a study was planned to evaluate the effects of a chronic treatment with the pineal hormone melatonin (MLT) in advanced cancer patients with altered cortisol circadian rhythm. PATIENTS ANDMETHODS:
The study included 14 untreatable metastatic cancer patients showing alterations of cortisol rhythm. They were treated by MLT at 20 mg/day orally, in the evening, for 3 consecutive months.RESULTS:
a normalization of cortisol rhythm was achieved in 4/14 (29%) patients. Moreover, stable disease (SD) was obtained in 6/14 (43%) patients under MLT therapy, whereas the other 8 patients had progressive disease (PD). Finally, the percentage of cortisol rhythm normalization achieved in patients with SD was significantly higher than that observed in patients with PD.CONCLUSION:
These results show that MLT may normalize cortisol rhythm in advanced cancer patients and this effect appears to be associated with SD, thus confirming the negative prognostic significance of cortisol rhythm alterations in cancer.
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Temas:
Geral
/
Tipos_de_cancer
/
Outros_tipos
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Hidrocortisona
/
Ritmo Circadiano
/
Melatonina
/
Neoplasias
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
In Vivo
Assunto da revista:
NEOPLASIAS
Ano de publicação:
2010
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Itália