ABSTRACT
Although a relationship between the pineal gland and malignancy was first suggested more than 60 years ago, only during the past 2 decades has the role of melatonin in the control of neoplastic growth been specifically explored. Recent data on melatonin binding sites in neoplastic tissues will be included in the experimental section as well. In this chapter on the clinical oncology of melatonin, there is a discussion of the role of melatonin in the treatment of cancer as well as the patterns, pathophysiology, and potential clinical significance of melatonin levels in the circulation of cancer patients. A novel aspect of the melatonin/oncology field has recently emerged, namely, the measurement of melatonin binding sites in neoplastic tissues with classical ligand-binding techniques using the high specific activity ligand 2-I-iodomelatonin. It deals with the nature and possible pathophysiological and clinical significance of altered melatonin levels in the circulation of cancer patients.
