Potential involvement of mt1 receptor and attenuated sex steroid-induced calcium influx in the direct anti-proliferative action of melatonin on androgen-responsive LNCaP human prostate cancer cells
Abstract
Melatonin, a pineal secretory product, has been shown to exert a direct anti-proliferative action on the androgen-sensitive LNCaP prostate cancer cell line through hitherto undefined mechanisms.
In this communication, expression of mt1 melatonin receptor protein in human prostate cancer tissues and LNCaP cells was demonstrated by immunohisto(cyto)chemistry and western blotting, hence supporting the use of LNCaP cell line as a model for the study of melatonin signaling in prostate cancer cell growth.
Using 3H-thymidine incorporation assay, LNCaP cell proliferation was inhibited by 2-iodomelatonin, a high-affinity melatonin receptor agonist.
Furthermore, melatonin inhibited 3H-thymidine incorporation into LNCaP cells and attenuated 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) or 17beta-estradiol (E2)-induced stimulation of LNCaP cell proliferation at physiological and pharmacological concentrations.
Similar concentration-dependent inhibition of sex steroid-induced stimulation of thymidine incorporation into LNCaP cells by 2-iodomelatonin was also observed. Interestingly, attenuation of sex steroid-stimulated calcium influx into LNCaP cells by pharmacological concentrations of melatonin was recorded, whereas 2-iodomelatonin had no effect on cytosolic calcium changes induced by sex steroids.
In addition, proliferative and cytosolic calcium changes were associated with inhibition of total prostate-specific antigen (PSA) production by LNCaP cells at high physiological and pharmacological concentrations of melatonin.
Our data suggest that activated mt1 receptor and attenuated sex steroid-induced calcium influx are two important mechanisms mediating the direct anti-proliferative action of melatonin on androgen-responsive human prostate cancer cells.
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: Melmethoatonin anticancer effects: Review (from Di Bella's Foundation);
- Publication: Key aspects of melatonin physiology: 30 years of research (from Di Bella's Foundation);
- The Di Bella Method (A Fixed Part - Calcium, 2 grams per day, orally);
- Complete objective response to biological therapy of plurifocal breast carcinoma;
- 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;






