Role of Melatonin in Breast Carcinoma: Correlation of Expression Patterns of Melatonin-1 Receptor With Estrogen, Progesterone, and HER2 Receptors
Abstract
Breast carcinoma is a multifaceted-etiology malignancy. The presence of estrogen (ER), progesterone (PR), and HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) receptors in breast carcinoma tissue has therapeutic implications.
Recent studies indicate that pineal hormone melatonin by its receptor melatonin 1 (MT1) also influences the development and growth of breast cancer cells.
The aim of this cross-sectional study was to elucidate the expression pattern of MT1 receptor in relation to estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors in breast carcinoma. Two groups (receptor positive and triple negative) of breast carcinoma were taken.
For comparison, normal mammary tissue was used as control. Immunohistochemistry was carried out using anti-melatonin receptor 1A antibody. Membranous/cytoplasmic expression was seen more than the nuclear expression in the cancerous tissue.
Positive correlation of the MT1 expression was seen with ER, PR, and HER 2 receptor. Higher MT1 receptor expression was seen in the receptor-positive cases in comparison with triple-negative cases, which might signify melatonin deficiency in the former, leading to reactive increase in cell receptors. No correlation of MT1 expression with Ki67 index or lymph node status in both receptor-positive and triple-negative cases was found. Normal mammary tissue mainly showed cytoplasmic MT1 immunoreactivity of epithelial cells (ducts and acini), myoepithelial cells, and lining epithelium of blood vessels. Receptor-positive cases would, therefore, benefit from the use of melatonin as supporting therapy.
This indicates that melatonin receptor status can be used as an independent pathologic indicator to evaluate breast carcinoma tissue, and melatonin receptor status may help to determine treatment protocols.
The Di Bella's Method: Use of Melatonin (together with others chemical compounds) in Breast Cancer:
- Complete objective response to biological therapy of plurifocal breast carcinoma;
See also:
- Official Web Site: The Di Bella Method;
- Melatonin use in cancer patients have started in 1974, when melatonin prepared according to Prof. Di Bella’s formulation [...]. For 11 days was administered to the patient, admitted to the general medical ward at the Maggiore-Pizzardi Hospital in Bologna, very slowly (over approx. 8 hours) and intravenously administered 1000 mg of melatonin for 11 days. During the course of each day, the patient was intravenously administered 4 saline drips of 500 ml, each containing ten 25 mg bottles of freeze-dried melatonin, lasting 2 hours, totaling 1000 mg per day. No other drug of any kind was administered in order to ascertain the effect of the MLT without interference [...]. From Melatonin with adenosine solubilized in water and stabilized with glycine for oncological treatment - technical preparation, effectivity and clinical findings;
- About Melatonin - In vitro, review and in vivo publications;
- Publication: Melatonin anticancer effects: Review (from Di Bella's Foundation);
- Publication: Key aspects of melatonin physiology: 30 years of research (from Di Bella's Foundation);
- Solution of retinoids in vitamin E in the Di Bella Method biological multitherapy;
- The Di Bella Method (A Fixed Part - Bromocriptine and/or Cabergoline);
- Prolactin inhibitors in oncology - In vitro, review and in vivo publications;
- Somatostatin in oncology, the overlooked evidences - In vitro, review and in vivo publications;
- Publication, 2018 Jul: Over-Expression of GH/GHR in Breast Cancer and Oncosuppressor Role of Somatostatin as a Physiological Inhibitor (from Di Bella's Foundation);
- Publication, 2019 Aug: The Entrapment of Somatostatin in a Lipid Formulation: Retarded Release and Free Radical Reactivity (from Di Bella's Foundation);
- Publication, 2019 Sep: Effects of Somatostatin and Vitamin C on the Fatty Acid Profile of Breast Cancer Cell Membranes (from Di Bella's Foundation);
- Publication, 2019 Sep: Effects of somatostatin, curcumin, and quercetin on the fatty acid profile of breast cancer cell membranes (from Di Bella's Foundation);
- Publication, 2020 Sep: Two neuroendocrine G protein-coupled receptor molecules, somatostatin and melatonin: Physiology of signal transduction and therapeutic perspectives (from Di Bella's Foundation);
The Di Bella's Method: Use of Melatonin - together with others chemical compounds - in several Oncological Pathologies:
- Pleural Mesothelioma: clinical records on 11 patients treated with Di Bella's Method;
- Malignant pleural mesothelioma, stage T3-T4. Consideration of a case study;
- Neuroblastoma: Complete objective response to biological treatment;
- Large B-cells Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Stage IV-AE: a Case Report;
- Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Stage III-B-E: a Case Report;
- Oesophageal squamocellular carcinoma: a complete and objective response;
- Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: clinical records on 17 patients treated with Di Bella's Method;






