| miRNAs are evolutionarily conserved non-coding ribonucleic acids with a length
of between 19 and 25 nucleotides. Because of their ability to regulate gene expression,
miRNAs have an important function in the controlling of various biological
processes, such as cell cycle, differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. Owing to
the long-standing regulative potential of miRNAs in tumor-suppressive pathways,
scholars have recently paid closer attention to the expression profile of miRNAs in
various types of cancer. Melatonin, an indolic compound secreted from pineal gland
and some peripheral tissues, has been considered as an effective anti-tumor hormone
in a wide spectrum of cancers. Furthermore, it induces apoptosis, inhibits tumor
metastasis and invasion, and also angiogenesis. A growing body of evidence indicates
the effects of melatonin on miRNAs expression in broad spectrum of diseases,
including cancer. Due to the long-term effects of the regulation of miRNAs expression,
melatonin could be a promising therapeutic factor in the treatment of cancers
via the regulation of miRNAs. Therefore, in this review, we will discuss |