| Melatonin is a physiological hormone produced by the pineal gland. In recent decades, enormous investigations
showed that melatonin can prompt apoptosis in cancer cells and inhibit tumor metastasis and angiogenesis in
variety of malignancies such as ovarian, melanoma, colon, and breast cancer; therefore, its possible therapeutic
usage in cancer treatment was confirmed. CSCs, which has received much attention from researchers in past
decades, are major challenges in the treatment of cancer. Because CSCs are resistant to chemotherapeutic drugs
and cause recurrence of cancer and also have the ability to be regenerated; they can cause serious problems in the
treatment of various cancers. For these reasons, the researchers are trying to find a solution to destroy these cells
within the tumor mass. In recent years, the effect of melatonin on CSCs has been investigated in some cancers.
Given the importance of CSCs in the process of cancer treatment, this article reviewed the studies conducted on
the effect of melatonin on CSCs as a solution to the problems caused by CSCs in the treatment of various cancers. |