Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
6B
pubmed:dateCreated
1996-8-7
pubmed:abstractText
Melatonin (MEL), the main hormone produced by the pineal gland, seems to exert antineoplastic activity both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, several studies reported increased melatonin blood levels in cancer patients. Plasma melatonin concentrations were determined in 46 patients with multiple myeloma and in 31 age matched healthy subjects (57.8 +/- 6.9 versus 55.2 +/- 8.9 years). Venous blood was drawn between 7.30 and 9.30 a.m. and melatonin was assayed using a commercially available radioimmunoassay. The data were analysed by Student's t test and results reported as mean values +/- standard deviation. The patients with multiple myeloma showed significantly higher mean melatonin serum levels than healthy subjects (21.6 +/- 13.5 versus 12.1 +/- 4.8 pg/ml; p < 0.001). This behaviour could actually represent a phenomenon secondary to an altered endocrine-metabolic balance caused by an increased demand of the developing tumor. On the other hand, the increased melatonin secretion might be considered as a compensatory mechanism due to its antimitotic action and therefore as an effort to secrete substances capable of regulating neoplastic growth.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:issn
0250-7005
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
15
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
2633-7
pubmed:dateRevised
2004-11-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:articleTitle
Serum melatonin in multiple myeloma: natural brake or epiphenomenon?
pubmed:affiliation
Istituto di Clinica Medica IV, Cattedra di Medicina Interna, Florence, Italy.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article