Ameliorative effects of melatonin against solid Ehrlich carcinoma progression in female mice

Abstract

The current work estimated the antitumour efficacy of melatonin (MLT) on the growth of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells inoculated intramuscularly into the hind limbs of female BALB/c mice and to compare its effects with those of adriamycin (ADR). After solid tumours developed, the animals were divided into the three following groups: the tumour‐bearing control, MLT‐treated (20 mg/kg body weight) and ADR‐treated (10 mg/kg body weight) groups. The results showed a significant reduction in the tumour masses of the treated animals in comparison with those of the control group. There were a significant decrease in the malondialdehyde level and a significant elevation of the glutathione concentration and the superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in the MLT and ADR groups. The current study indicated the increased expression levels of P53, caspase‐3 and caspase‐9 and the decreased expression levels of the rRNA and Bcl2. The MLT and ADR treatments resulted in histological changes, such as a marked degenerative area, the necrosis of neoplastic cells, the appearance of different forms of apoptotic cells and giant cells with condensed chromatin, and a deeply eosinophilic cytoplasm. The MLT and ADR treatments also significantly decreased the Ki‐67 protein and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression levels in the tumour masses. In conclusion, similar to ADR‐treated tumour‐bearing mice, MLT suppressed the growth and proliferation of tumour by inducing apoptosis and by inhibiting tumour vascularization. The current data recommend MLT as a safe natural chemotherapeutic adjuvant to overcome cancer progression after a clinical trial validates these results.

Metabolic Anti-Cancer Effects of Melatonin: Clinically Relevant Prospects

“…Notably, p53 was upregulated in the tested HepG2 cell line [ 125 ]. Furthermore, melatonin significantly upregulated p53 and caspase-3 and -9, and downregulated Bcl-2 at the mRNA level, in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells inoculated into BALB/c mice; this inhibited tumor growth, proliferation and neovascularization [ 126 ]. Interestingly, melatonin also exerts anticancer abilities in combination with phytochemicals.…”

Immunomodulatory effect of papaya ( Carica papaya ) pulp and seed extracts as a potential natural treatment for bacterial stress

“…In papaya, β‐cryptoxanthin, lycopene, and β‐carotene were the main identified carotenoids (Sancho et al, ). Carotenoids are abundant in several tropical fruit species, while act as strong antioxidants that protect the cell membrane lipids from free radicals (Amin et al, ; Maria do Socorro et al, ; Pierson et al, ).…”

B-Mode and Doppler Ultrasonography in a Murine Model of Ehrlich Solid Carcinoma With Different Growth Patterns

“…This description can be compared with histopathological descriptions. Previous studies described ESC as surrounded by a well-defined fibrous capsule ( 12 , 27 ), which, in large tumors, lose their integrity and present invasion of adjacent structures ( 13 , 14 , 28 ). The inside of the ESC has been described with a large necrotic center or with central necrotic areas around which there is a shell of viable tissue ( 12 , 27 ).…”

“…It originates from spontaneous murine mammary adenocarcinoma and adapts to an ascites form by intraperitoneal serial passages ( 12 ). The solid form i.e., Ehrlich solid carcinoma (ESC) is generated from subcutaneous inoculation and considered an important tool in the investigation of antineoplastic treatments ( 13 , 14 ). Although ESC is being used in thousands of studies annually, especially for testing new antineoplastic treatments and their toxicity ( 15 , 16 ), there are few studies on their biology, and we did not find published studies on its ultrasonographic aspect.…”