Melatonin / OXPHOS Cancer Research Results

MEL, Melatonin: Click to Expand ⟱
Features:
Hormone in the body made by pineal gland.
• Melatonin is a potent antioxidant. It neutralizes reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), which are involved in DNA damage and cancer progression.
• Melatonin has been shown to modulate apoptotic pathways by influencing mitochondrial permeability, cytochrome c release, and caspase activation.
• In several cancer cell models, melatonin appears to promote apoptosis in malignant cells while sparing normal cells.

The most well-known indolamines are serotonin and melatonin, both of which play significant roles in regulating mood, sleep, and overall mental well-being.

Melatonin doses (20 mg to even 40 mg per day), often given as an adjuvant treatment for cancer.
-The plasma half-life of melatonin is generally in the range of approximately 20 to 60 minutes
-It has been suggested that administering melatonin at the appropriate phase of the circadian cycle may enhance its anti-tumor activity and reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Bio-availability: Oral melatonin has a low and variable bio-availability (often estimated between 3% and 33%), which means that only a fraction of the ingested dose reaches the bloodstream unchanged.

For proOxidant effect might need >10uM, which might be 100mg dose (assuming 10% bio-availability) Might also be required X10 levels?
-It remains unknown whether the pro-oxidant action exists in vivo. the vast majority of evidence indicates that melatonin is a potent antioxidant in vivo even at pharmacological concentrations.

Interactions:
-Melatonin could potentially add to the blood pressure–lowering properties of antihypertensive drugs.
-Patients using insulin should be monitored for changes in blood glucose levels.
-Melatonin might interact with drugs like warfarin, aspirin, or clopidogrel.(antiplatelet)


Melatonin Cancer Relevant Pathways
Rank Pathway / Axis Cancer Cells Normal Cells Label Primary Interpretation Notes
1 Circadian signaling (MT1 / MT2 receptors) ↓ proliferative circadian disruption ↑ circadian synchronization Driver Chronobiology normalization Melatonin restores circadian control; cancer cells lose growth advantages from circadian dysregulation
2 Reactive oxygen species (ROS) ↓ ROS (baseline); context-dependent ↑ stress signaling ↓ ROS (strong buffering) Driver Antioxidant dominance with signaling effects Melatonin is a potent direct and indirect antioxidant; cancer cells may still undergo stress-mediated growth inhibition
3 Mitochondrial function ↓ metabolic flexibility; ↑ apoptosis sensitivity ↑ mitochondrial efficiency Secondary Mitochondrial stabilization vs vulnerability Melatonin improves mitochondrial function in normal cells while limiting metabolic plasticity in cancer cells
4 Estrogen signaling (ERα modulation) ↓ estrogen-driven proliferation ↔ minimal Secondary Hormone-dependent growth suppression Particularly relevant in breast and hormone-responsive cancers
5 NF-κB signaling ↓ inflammatory / survival signaling ↓ inflammatory tone Secondary Anti-inflammatory modulation NF-κB suppression contributes to reduced tumor-promoting inflammation
6 Cell cycle regulation ↓ proliferation / ↑ arrest ↔ spared Phenotypic Cytostatic growth control Growth inhibition reflects upstream circadian and hormonal effects
7 Apoptosis sensitivity ↑ sensitivity to apoptosis (chemo/RT) ↓ apoptosis Phenotypic Therapy sensitization Melatonin enhances response to chemo- and radiotherapy while protecting normal tissue


OXPHOS, Oxidative phosphorylation: Click to Expand ⟱
Source:
Type:
Oxidative phosphorylation (or phosphorylation) is the fourth and final step in cellular respiration.
Alterations in phosphorylation pathways result in serious outcomes in cancer. Many signalling pathways including Tyrosine kinase, MAP kinase, Cadherin-catenin complex, Cyclin-dependent kinase etc. are major players of the cell cycle and deregulation in their phosphorylation-dephosphorylation cascade has been shown to be manifested in the form of various types of cancers.
Many tumors exhibit a well-known metabolic shift known as the Warburg effect, where glycolysis is favored over OxPhos even in the presence of oxygen. However, this is not universal.
Many cancers, including certain subpopulations like cancer stem cells, still rely on OXPHOS for energy production, biosynthesis, and survival.

– In several cancers, especially during metastasis or in tumors with high metabolic plasticity, OxPhos can remain active or even be upregulated to meet energy demands.

In some cancers, high OxPhos activity correlates with aggressive features, resistance to standard therapies, and poor outcomes, particularly when tumor cells exploit mitochondrial metabolism for survival and metastasis.

– Conversely, low OxPhos activity can be associated with a reliance on glycolysis, which is also linked with rapid tumor growth and certain adverse prognostic features.

Inhibiting oxidative phosphorylation is not a universal strategy against all cancers. Targeting OXPHOS can potentially disrupt the metabolic flexibility of cancer cells, leading to their death or making them more susceptible to other treatments.
Since normal cells also rely on OXPHOS, inhibitors must be carefully targeted to avoid significant toxicity to healthy tissues.
Not all tumors are the same. Some may be more glycolytic, while others depend more on mitochondrial metabolism. Therefore, metabolic profiling of tumors is crucial before adopting this strategy. Inhibiting OXPHOS is being explored in combination with other treatments (such as chemo- or immunotherapies) to improve efficacy and overcome resistance.

In cancer cells, metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark where cells often rely on glycolysis (known as the Warburg effect); however, many cancer types also depend on OXPHOS for energy production and survival. Targeting OXPHOS(using inhibitor) to increase the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) can selectively induce oxidative stress and cell death in cancer cells.

-One side effect of increased OXPHOS is the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS).
-Many cancer cells therefore simultaneously upregulate antioxidant systems to mitigate the damaging effects of elevated ROS.
-Increase in oxidative phosphorylation can inhibit cancer growth.


Scientific Papers found: Click to Expand⟱
6419- MEL,    The potential influence of melatonin on mitochondrial quality control: a review
- Review, Nor, NA
*mt-ACC⇅, *PKM1↑, *PKM2↑, *Glycolysis↝, *PDKs↑, *FAO↑, *ETC↑, *OXPHOS↑, *ATP↑, Glycolysis↓, OXPHOS↑, *Ca+2↓, *ROS↓, *antiOx↑, *SOD2↑, *GPx↑, *Catalase↑, *MFN1↑, *MFN2↑, *OPA1↑, *YAP/TEAD↑, *Hippo↑, *SIRT1↑, *PGC-1α↑, *DRP1/DNM1L↓,

Showing Research Papers: 1 to 1 of 1

* indicates research on normal cells as opposed to diseased cells
Total Research Paper Matches: 1

Pathway results for Effect on Cancer / Diseased Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress

OXPHOS↑, 1,  

Core Metabolism/Glycolysis

Glycolysis↓, 1,  
Total Targets: 2

Pathway results for Effect on Normal Cells:


NA, unassigned

DRP1/DNM1L↓, 1,   MFN1↑, 1,   MFN2↑, 1,   OPA1↑, 1,  

Redox & Oxidative Stress

antiOx↑, 1,   Catalase↑, 1,   GPx↑, 1,   OXPHOS↑, 1,   ROS↓, 1,   SOD2↑, 1,  

Mitochondria & Bioenergetics

ATP↑, 1,   ETC↑, 1,   PGC-1α↑, 1,  

Core Metabolism/Glycolysis

mt-ACC⇅, 1,   FAO↑, 1,   Glycolysis↝, 1,   PDKs↑, 1,   PKM1↑, 1,   PKM2↑, 1,   SIRT1↑, 1,  

Cell Death

Hippo↑, 1,   YAP/TEAD↑, 1,  

Migration

Ca+2↓, 1,  
Total Targets: 23

Scientific Paper Hit Count for: OXPHOS, Oxidative phosphorylation
Query results interpretion may depend on "conditions" listed in the research papers.
Such Conditions may include : 
  -low or high Dose
  -format for product, such as nano of lipid formations
  -different cell line effects
  -synergies with other products 
  -if effect was for normal or cancerous cells
Filter Conditions: Pro/AntiFlg:%  IllCat:%  CanType:%  Cells:%  prod#:122  Target#:230  State#:%  Dir#:2
wNotes=0 sortOrder:rid,rpid

 

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