The medical literature reports that melatonin produces a variety of favorable outcomes in oncology patients. Lissoni's group reports that melatonin reduces the toxicity of various chemotherapeutic agents, including cisplatin, etopsoide, anthracyclines and 5-flourouracil. In addition, they found a statistically significant reduction in treatment related adverse events, such as myelosuppression, neurotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, cardiotoxicity and asthenia. In other trials, Lissoni's group reports that melatonin treated patients experienced relief of anxiety and improvement in the quality of sleep. These investigators also report that melatonin may counteract the body wasting that occurs with progressing cancer and forestalls respiratory distress (Lissoni P, Paolorossi F, Tancini G, 1996). Moreover, melatonin appears to reduce the side effects of radiotherapy. In a small-randomized trial of grade 4 astrocytoma patients, investigators discovered that melatonin improved quality of life and survival compared to radiotherapy alone. Indeed, in their many publications, Lissoni et al. found no melatonin-related toxicity (Lissoni et al., 1992, 1994, 1996, 1999). In another investigation, Gonzalez et al report that 700-mg doses of melatonin induced transient decreases in the tumor mass of patients with advanced malignant melanoma. Thanks to lef.org (Life Extension Foundation) for this summary. Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.