Endogenous 6-Hydroxylmelatonin Excretion and Subsequent Risk of Breast Cancer: A Prospective Study
Abstract
The prevalence of breast cancer is greatest in industrialized regions, and exposure to light at night has been proposed as a potential risk factor. Modulation of melatonin secretion by light has been implicated in the causal pathway linking exposure to light and breast cancer risk. Recent evidence indicates that melatonin is a natural oncostatic agent capable of functioning through a variety of anti-proliferative, anti-oxidative, and immunostimulatory mechanisms. The authors propose to conduct a study on the association of prediagnostic melatonin production and subsequent breast cancer risk in a prospective cohort study, the Italian ORDET study. Prediagnostic melatonin production will be measured as urine levels of 6-hydroxymelatonin sulphate (6-OHMS), its primary enzymatic metabolite, in 12-hour urine (overnight) collection. The study will be conducted as a nested case-control study. They expect 533 breast cancer cases among cohort members during the 17-year follow-up period. Four controls will be matched to each case on age, menopausal status, recruitment center, and time of recruitment for a total number of 2,132 control subjects. This study will be the first one analyzing the potential effect of melatonin on breast cancer risk. The authors believe it will provide important data on likely key risk factors in the development of this disease.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA459283
Entities
People
- Paola Muti
Organizations
- State University of New York at Albany