The study, published in the prestigious Journal of Pineal Research, highlights the importance of melatonin as an anticancer substance, while protecting healthy cells.
The MP17-Intercellular Communication research group of the Granada Biosanitary Research Institute (ibs.GRANADA) has carried out a study that demonstrates the important role of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep, contributing to cell death or apoptosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
Cancer cases, the second leading cause of death worldwide, are expected to increase by 2025, with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) responsible for 500 new cases each year. Despite continuing advances in surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, 000-year survival rates remain below 5%. Recurrent HNSCC contributes to significant morbidity and poor survival overall, and investigation of new therapeutic targets and treatments is quite urgent.
Melatonin is of particular relevance for the development of innovative cancer treatments, due to its anticancer properties, and its role in cell apoptosis.
The research carried out by the ibs.GRANADA, led in part by Javier Florido and Germaine Escames, has consisted of observing in the laboratory the behavior of squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck after the administration of a melatonin treatment of 500 and 1000 um for 48 hours.
The results show how melatonin produces a direct action on the mitochondria, increasing the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which, as a consequence, increase oxidative stress and cause a marked increase in HNSCC death. However, melatonin in non-tumor cells has an opposite effect, acting as an antioxidant. The researchers demonstrate in this work the mechanism of melatonin to exert this dual effect, protect healthy cells and increase the death of tumor cells.
This finding from Granada may represent an important advance in the development of less aggressive and more effective treatments for the treatment of squamous cell cancer of the head and neck, improving prognosis and survival.
About the research group
The “MP17-Intercellular Communication” research group at ibs.GRANADA, whose lead researcher is Germaine Escames, focuses its research on the study of the mitochondria as a fundamental cell organelle and as a therapeutic target for melatonin in various pathologies, such as ageing, Parkinson's, sepsis, cancer and mitochondrial deficiencies. The Research Group stands out for its high productivity and transfer to the productive sector, fundamentally to the pharmaceutical industry. The research has been financed by regional, national and international R&D projects, regularly collaborating with leading international groups in their field. They have developed several patents for new melatonin formulations that have been tested in various clinical trials and transferred to the pharmaceutical industry. For example, a cream to regenerate the skin for topical application has been transferred to Pharmamel SL, a spin-off created by them and with international projection. It should be noted that this team of scientists has received numerous awards and prizes for their career, transfer, quality and publication citations, etc.
Bibliographic reference: Melatonin drives apoptosis in head and neck cancer by increasing mitochondrial ROS generated via reverse electron transport. J Pineal Res. doi: 10.1111/jpi.12824.
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