Melatonin, Aging and Breast Cancer
Abstract
An increasing percentage of elderly women, particularly in industrialized countries, are developing breast cancer. Numerous hypotheses have been proposed to explain this dramatic increase in breast cancer incidence in the later stages of life. However, an alternative hypothesis is that aging results in changes in the internal milieu of the organism, such as metabolic, endocrine and immunologic shifts, providing increasingly favorable conditions for tumor induction, promotion and progression. The pineal gland, via its hormone melatonin, has been shown by numerous laboratories to inhibit the proliferation of both human and animal models of breast cancer. As individuals age, there is the onset of disrupted sleep leading to a significant suppression in the nocturnal levels of melatonin after age 60. Using the Buffalo rat as a model, we have begun to characterize the melatonin rhythm in young vs. aged female rats.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA396358
Entities
People
- Steven M. Hill
Organizations
- Tulane University of Louisiana