Melatonin enhanced bexarotene efficacy in experimental mammary carcinogenesis

Neoplasma. 2012;59(4):469-74. doi: 10.4149/neo_2012_060.

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to test lower, safe bexarotene dose administered alone and in combination with melatonin to improve its efficacy. Mammary carcinogenesis was induced by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea in female Sprague-Dawley rats, administered in two doses intraperitoneally between 42.-54. postnatal days and chemoprevention was initiated 7 days prior to first N-methyl-N-nitrosourea injection and lasted 15 weeks. Bexarotene, particularly in combination with melatonin decreased mammary tumor incidence and frequency with a shift from poorly to well differentiated carcinomas. Bexarotene alleviated glycaemia and liver/heart muscle glycogen concentration decreased as well as liver/thymus malondialdehyde increased in comparison with control group. The combination of bexarotene and melatonin is therefore beneficial in preventive-curative model of experimental mammary carcinogenesis and may be applied in oncological practice as such.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anticarcinogenic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols
  • Antioxidants / therapeutic use*
  • Bexarotene
  • Carcinogens / toxicity
  • Female
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / chemically induced
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / prevention & control*
  • Melatonin / therapeutic use*
  • Methylnitrosourea / toxicity
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Tetrahydronaphthalenes / therapeutic use*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anticarcinogenic Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Carcinogens
  • Tetrahydronaphthalenes
  • Methylnitrosourea
  • Bexarotene
  • Melatonin