Vitamin A Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Vitamin A, including details on retinol, benefits, dosage, supplements, deficiency, information.

Regression of NMU-induced mammary tumors with the combination of melatonin and 9-cis-retinoic acid.

Melancon K, Cheng Q, Kiefer TL, Dai J, Lai L, Dong C, Yuan L, Collins A, Thiyagarajah A, Long S, Hill SM

Department of Transplantation and Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 555905, USA; Department of Surgery, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.

A significant increase in tumor regression was induced in N-nitroso-N-methylurea-induced mammary tumors in rats treated with the combination of melatonin and 9-cis-retinoic acid (9cRA). Treatment groups included: control (ethanolic saline), 9cRA (30 mg/kg chow/day), melatonin 500 microg/day, melatonin 1000 microg/day, melatonin 500 microg/day+9cRA and melatonin 1000 microg/day+9cRA. Rats treated with the lower dose of melatonin 500 microg+9cRA show the greatest degree of tumor regression (78%), with 54% undergoing complete regression and a significant increase in apoptotic cells observed by TUNEL Assay. Furthermore, tumor multiplicity and burden were significantly decreased by the combination of melatonin and 9cRA.

Published 29 July 2005 in Cancer Lett, 227(1): 39-48.
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