Evidence map›Paper›PMID 25876649›Full record

ReviewEndocrine-related cancer2015

Melatonin: an inhibitor of breast cancer.

Steven M Hill, Victoria P Belancio, Robert T Dauchy, Shulin Xiang, Samantha Brimer, Lulu Mao, Adam Hauch, Peter W Lundberg, Whitney Summers, Lin Yuan and 2 more

Open access · bronzeAbstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Endocrine-related cancer, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 147 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
147citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
14.3field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

147 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 313 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Review
  8. Tryptophan's Journey Through Pregnancy: The Role of Serotonin.International journal of tryptophan research : IJTR · 2026
    Review
  9. Review
  10. Review
  11. The clinical impact of chronopharmacology on current medicine.Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology · 2025
    Review
  12. Review
  13. Article
  14. Unobtrusive inference of circadian rhythms from smartphone data.medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences · 2025
    Article
  15. Article
  16. Review
  17. Article
  18. Melatonin, an Antitumor Necrosis Factor Therapy.Journal of pineal research · 2025
    Review
  19. Article
  20. Article

87 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Steven M HillDepartment of Structural and Cellular BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-49, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USADepartment of SurgeryTulane Cancer Center and Louisiana Cancer Research ConsortiumCircadian Cancer Biology GroupTulane Center for Circadian BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA Department of Structural and Cellular BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-49, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USADepartment of SurgeryTulane Cancer Center and Louisiana Cancer Research ConsortiumCircadian Cancer Biology GroupTulane Center for Circadian BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA Department of Structural and Cellular BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-49, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USADepartment of SurgeryTulane Cancer Center and Louisiana Cancer Research ConsortiumCircadian Cancer Biology GroupTulane Center for Circadian BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA Department of Structural and Cellular BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-49, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USADepartment of SurgeryTulane Cancer Center and Louisiana Cancer Research ConsortiumCircadian Cancer Biology GroupTulane Center for Circadian BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA smhill@tulane.edu.
Victoria P BelancioDepartment of Structural and Cellular BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-49, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USADepartment of SurgeryTulane Cancer Center and Louisiana Cancer Research ConsortiumCircadian Cancer Biology GroupTulane Center for Circadian BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA Department of Structural and Cellular BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-49, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USADepartment of SurgeryTulane Cancer Center and Louisiana Cancer Research ConsortiumCircadian Cancer Biology GroupTulane Center for Circadian BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA Department of Structural and Cellular BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-49, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USADepartment of SurgeryTulane Cancer Center and Louisiana Cancer Research ConsortiumCircadian Cancer Biology GroupTulane Center for Circadian BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA Department of Structural and Cellular BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-49, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USADepartment of SurgeryTulane Cancer Center and Louisiana Cancer Research ConsortiumCircadian Cancer Biology GroupTulane Center for Circadian BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA.
Robert T DauchyDepartment of Structural and Cellular BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-49, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USADepartment of SurgeryTulane Cancer Center and Louisiana Cancer Research ConsortiumCircadian Cancer Biology GroupTulane Center for Circadian BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA Department of Structural and Cellular BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-49, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USADepartment of SurgeryTulane Cancer Center and Louisiana Cancer Research ConsortiumCircadian Cancer Biology GroupTulane Center for Circadian BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA Department of Structural and Cellular BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-49, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USADepartment of SurgeryTulane Cancer Center and Louisiana Cancer Research ConsortiumCircadian Cancer Biology GroupTulane Center for Circadian BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA Department of Structural and Cellular BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-49, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USADepartment of SurgeryTulane Cancer Center and Louisiana Cancer Research ConsortiumCircadian Cancer Biology GroupTulane Center for Circadian BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA.
Shulin XiangDepartment of Structural and Cellular BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-49, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USADepartment of SurgeryTulane Cancer Center and Louisiana Cancer Research ConsortiumCircadian Cancer Biology GroupTulane Center for Circadian BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA Department of Structural and Cellular BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-49, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USADepartment of SurgeryTulane Cancer Center and Louisiana Cancer Research ConsortiumCircadian Cancer Biology GroupTulane Center for Circadian BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA Department of Structural and Cellular BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-49, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USADepartment of SurgeryTulane Cancer Center and Louisiana Cancer Research ConsortiumCircadian Cancer Biology GroupTulane Center for Circadian BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA Department of Structural and Cellular BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-49, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USADepartment of SurgeryTulane Cancer Center and Louisiana Cancer Research ConsortiumCircadian Cancer Biology GroupTulane Center for Circadian BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA.
Samantha BrimerDepartment of Structural and Cellular BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-49, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USADepartment of SurgeryTulane Cancer Center and Louisiana Cancer Research ConsortiumCircadian Cancer Biology GroupTulane Center for Circadian BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA.
Lulu MaoDepartment of Structural and Cellular BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-49, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USADepartment of SurgeryTulane Cancer Center and Louisiana Cancer Research ConsortiumCircadian Cancer Biology GroupTulane Center for Circadian BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA Department of Structural and Cellular BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-49, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USADepartment of SurgeryTulane Cancer Center and Louisiana Cancer Research ConsortiumCircadian Cancer Biology GroupTulane Center for Circadian BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA Department of Structural and Cellular BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-49, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USADepartment of SurgeryTulane Cancer Center and Louisiana Cancer Research ConsortiumCircadian Cancer Biology GroupTulane Center for Circadian BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA Department of Structural and Cellular BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-49, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USADepartment of SurgeryTulane Cancer Center and Louisiana Cancer Research ConsortiumCircadian Cancer Biology GroupTulane Center for Circadian BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA.
Adam HauchDepartment of Structural and Cellular BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-49, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USADepartment of SurgeryTulane Cancer Center and Louisiana Cancer Research ConsortiumCircadian Cancer Biology GroupTulane Center for Circadian BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA.
Peter W LundbergDepartment of Structural and Cellular BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-49, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USADepartment of SurgeryTulane Cancer Center and Louisiana Cancer Research ConsortiumCircadian Cancer Biology GroupTulane Center for Circadian BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA.
Whitney SummersDepartment of Structural and Cellular BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-49, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USADepartment of SurgeryTulane Cancer Center and Louisiana Cancer Research ConsortiumCircadian Cancer Biology GroupTulane Center for Circadian BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA.
Lin YuanDepartment of Structural and Cellular BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-49, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USADepartment of SurgeryTulane Cancer Center and Louisiana Cancer Research ConsortiumCircadian Cancer Biology GroupTulane Center for Circadian BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA Department of Structural and Cellular BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-49, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USADepartment of SurgeryTulane Cancer Center and Louisiana Cancer Research ConsortiumCircadian Cancer Biology GroupTulane Center for Circadian BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA.
Tripp FraschDepartment of Structural and Cellular BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-49, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USADepartment of SurgeryTulane Cancer Center and Louisiana Cancer Research ConsortiumCircadian Cancer Biology GroupTulane Center for Circadian BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA Department of Structural and Cellular BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-49, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USADepartment of SurgeryTulane Cancer Center and Louisiana Cancer Research ConsortiumCircadian Cancer Biology GroupTulane Center for Circadian BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA.
David E BlaskDepartment of Structural and Cellular BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-49, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USADepartment of SurgeryTulane Cancer Center and Louisiana Cancer Research ConsortiumCircadian Cancer Biology GroupTulane Center for Circadian BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA Department of Structural and Cellular BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-49, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USADepartment of SurgeryTulane Cancer Center and Louisiana Cancer Research ConsortiumCircadian Cancer Biology GroupTulane Center for Circadian BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA Department of Structural and Cellular BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-49, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USADepartment of SurgeryTulane Cancer Center and Louisiana Cancer Research ConsortiumCircadian Cancer Biology GroupTulane Center for Circadian BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA Department of Structural and Cellular BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-49, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USADepartment of SurgeryTulane Cancer Center and Louisiana Cancer Research ConsortiumCircadian Cancer Biology GroupTulane Center for Circadian BiologyTulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA.
Tulane University · US

Funding

Melatonin Supplementation in Complementary Breast Cancer PreventionR21CA129875 · NCI · TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA · PI BLASK, DAVID · 2008 to 2011
$497k
NCI NIH HHS R21 CA129875NCI NIH HHS R21CA129875-04
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The present review discusses recent work on melatonin-mediated circadian regulation, the metabolic and molecular signaling mechanisms that are involved in human breast cancer growth, and the associated consequences of circadian disruption by exposure to light at night (LEN). The anti-cancer actions of the circadian melatonin signal in human breast cancer cell lines and xenografts heavily involve MT1 receptor-mediated mechanisms. In estrogen receptor alpha (ERα)-positive human breast cancer, melatonin suppresses ERα mRNA expression and ERα transcriptional activity via the MT1 receptor. Melatonin also regulates the transactivation of other members of the nuclear receptor superfamily, estrogen-metabolizing enzymes, and the expression of core clock and clock-related genes. Furthermore, melatonin also suppresses tumor aerobic metabolism (the Warburg effect) and, subsequently, cell-signaling pathways critical to cell proliferation, cell survival, metastasis, and drug resistance. Melatonin demonstrates both cytostatic and cytotoxic activity in breast cancer cells that appears to be cell type-specific. Melatonin also possesses anti-invasive/anti-metastatic actions that involve multiple pathways, including inhibition of p38 MAPK and repression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Studies have demonstrated that melatonin promotes genomic stability by inhibiting the expression of LINE-1 retrotransposons. Finally, research in animal and human models has indicated that LEN-induced disruption of the circadian nocturnal melatonin signal promotes the growth, metabolism, and signaling of human breast cancer and drives breast tumors to endocrine and chemotherapeutic resistance. These data provide the strongest understanding and support of the mechanisms that underpin the epidemiologic demonstration of elevated breast cancer risk in night-shift workers and other individuals who are increasingly exposed to LEN.

Indexed as

AnimalsBreast NeoplasmsCircadian RhythmFemaleHumansMelatoninSignal TransductionMelatoninbreast cancercircadian disruptiondrug resistancegenomic instabilitymelatoninmolecular signalingnuclear receptors

Identifiers

PMID25876649
PMCPMC4457700
OpenAlexW2090740247

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.