Breast cancer, blindness and melatonin

M. P. Coleman; R. J. Reiter

doi:10.1016/S0959-8049(05)80087-5

Breast cancer, blindness and melatonin

M. P. Coleman, R. J. Reiter

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

54 Scopus citations

Abstract

The hypothesis is advanced that blindness from an early age may lead to a reduced risk of breast cancer through altered patterns of melatonin secretion by the pineal gland. The available experimental evidence in animals and in vitro is consistent with this hypothesis. The hypothesis can be tested in humans by a simple observational study in which the breast cancer risk in blind women is compared with that of all women. The effect of age at onset, duration and degree of blindness could also be assessed, after adjustment for known risk factors for breast cancer. Melatonin might prove to be a natural oncostatic agent of practical value in cancer prevention.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	501-503
Number of pages	3
Journal	European Journal of Cancer
Volume	28
Issue number	2-3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0959-8049(05)80087-5
State	Published - 1992
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Oncology
Cancer Research

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10.1016/S0959-8049(05)80087-5

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title = "Breast cancer, blindness and melatonin",

abstract = "The hypothesis is advanced that blindness from an early age may lead to a reduced risk of breast cancer through altered patterns of melatonin secretion by the pineal gland. The available experimental evidence in animals and in vitro is consistent with this hypothesis. The hypothesis can be tested in humans by a simple observational study in which the breast cancer risk in blind women is compared with that of all women. The effect of age at onset, duration and degree of blindness could also be assessed, after adjustment for known risk factors for breast cancer. Melatonin might prove to be a natural oncostatic agent of practical value in cancer prevention.",

author = "Coleman, {M. P.} and Reiter, {R. J.}",

note = "Funding Information: Acknowledgements---This investigationw as supported in part by Public Health Service grants P01-CA-33619 and R01-CA-26515, and contract N01-CN-55424 from the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services. We thank the Kaiser Medical Center, Kuakini Medical Center, Queen's Medical Center, Straub Clinic and Hospital, St. Francis Medical Center, Castle Memorial Hospital, and Wahiawa General Hospital for their support of this study. The programming assistance of Mr Yun Oh Jung, Ms. Sau Ling Hicks, Ms. Sandy Biddinger, and Ms. Joanne Ide is also acknowledged.",

year = "1992",

doi = "10.1016/S0959-8049(05)80087-5",

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AU - Reiter, R. J.

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PY - 1992

Y1 - 1992

N2 - The hypothesis is advanced that blindness from an early age may lead to a reduced risk of breast cancer through altered patterns of melatonin secretion by the pineal gland. The available experimental evidence in animals and in vitro is consistent with this hypothesis. The hypothesis can be tested in humans by a simple observational study in which the breast cancer risk in blind women is compared with that of all women. The effect of age at onset, duration and degree of blindness could also be assessed, after adjustment for known risk factors for breast cancer. Melatonin might prove to be a natural oncostatic agent of practical value in cancer prevention.

AB - The hypothesis is advanced that blindness from an early age may lead to a reduced risk of breast cancer through altered patterns of melatonin secretion by the pineal gland. The available experimental evidence in animals and in vitro is consistent with this hypothesis. The hypothesis can be tested in humans by a simple observational study in which the breast cancer risk in blind women is compared with that of all women. The effect of age at onset, duration and degree of blindness could also be assessed, after adjustment for known risk factors for breast cancer. Melatonin might prove to be a natural oncostatic agent of practical value in cancer prevention.

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Breast cancer, blindness and melatonin

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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