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A
randomized study with the pineal hormone melatonin versus supportive care alone
in patients with brain metastases due to solid neoplasms
Lissoni P, Barni S, Ardizzoia A, Tancini G, Conti A,
Maestroni G
Division
of Radiotherapy, San Gerardo Hospital, Milan, Italy
Background.
Unresectable brain metastases remain an untreatable disease.
Because of its antitumor cytostatic action and its anticonvulsant effect, the
pineal hormone melatonin could constitute a new effective agent in the treatment
of brain metastases.
The current study was performed to evaluate the effect of melatonin on the
survival time in patients with brain metastases due to solid neoplasms.
Methods.
The study included 50 patients, who were randomized to be treated with
supportive care alone (steroids plus anticonvulsant agents) or with supportive
care plus melatonin (20 mg/day at 8:00 p.m. orally).
Results.
The survival at 1 year, free-from-brain-progression period, and mean survival
time were significantly higher in patients treated with melatonin than in those
who received the supportive care alone.
Conversely, steroid-induced metabolic and infective complications were
significantly more frequent in patients treated with supportive care alone than
in those concomitantly treated with melatonin.
Conclusions.
The pineal hormone melatonin may be able to improve the survival time and the
quality of life in patients with brain metastases due to solid tumors.
PMID:
8299092 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Source:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8299092&dopt=Abstract
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