Taking melatonin alongside chemotherapy drugs like doxorubicin helps protect the heart from damage caused by the treatment, keeping heart cells healthy and functioning properly while still allowing the cancer drug to work.
Claim Context
Co-administration of melatonin significantly attenuates doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in preclinical models by preserving mitochondrial membrane potential, reducing reactive oxygen species generation, and modulating the AMPK/PGC1α and YAP signaling pathways. This protective effect prevents cardiomyocyte apoptosis and maintains left ventricular function without compromising the antitumor efficacy of chemotherapy agents.
“Treatment with Dox for 5 weeks was associated with significant LV dysfunction... concomitant administration of melatonin and Dox reduced ROS generation in cardiomyocytes, and inhibited apoptosis by increasing the MMP... melatonin therapy decreased the cardiotoxicity mediated by Dox through maintaining YAP levels”
Evidence from Studies
No evidence studies found yet.
What Would Prove This
Per GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this claim, ordered from strongest to weakest.
Aggregate data from all human RCTs evaluating melatonin as an adjunct to anthracycline chemotherapy to determine its effect on left ventricular ejection fraction and cardiac biomarkers.
A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of all published human randomized controlled trials evaluating melatonin as an adjunct to anthracycline chemotherapy, focusing on left ventricular ejection fraction, troponin I, and CK-MB levels as primary outcomes.
A multicenter double-blind RCT of 400 breast cancer patients receiving doxorubicin-based chemotherapy, randomized to 10mg daily melatonin vs placebo, with primary endpoint of change in LVEF at 6 months and secondary endpoints of troponin I and CK-MB levels.
A multicenter double-blind RCT of 400 breast cancer patients receiving doxorubicin-based chemotherapy, randomized to 10mg daily melatonin vs placebo, with primary endpoint of change in LVEF at 6 months and secondary endpoints of troponin I and CK-MB levels.
A prospective observational study of 250 oncology patients tracking melatonin supplementation adherence against subsequent incidence of chemotherapy-induced cardiomyopathy over 3 years.
A prospective observational study of 250 oncology patients tracking melatonin supplementation adherence against subsequent incidence of chemotherapy-induced cardiomyopathy over 3 years.
Comparing serum melatonin levels and cardiac imaging results in patients who developed doxorubicin cardiotoxicity versus matched controls who did not.
Comparing serum melatonin levels and cardiac imaging results in patients who developed doxorubicin cardiotoxicity versus matched controls who did not.
Current narrative review compiling rodent and in vitro studies on melatonin's cardioprotective mechanisms against anthracyclines.
Current narrative review compiling rodent and in vitro studies on melatonin's cardioprotective mechanisms against anthracyclines.