Possible Interaction: Melatonin and Aldesleukin

“The occurrence of hypotension was significantly less frequent in patients concomitantly treated by melatonin than in those who received the cytokine alone, during either IL-2 or TNF immunotherapy ( IL-2 : 11/45 versus 2/46,P<0.05; TNF: 10/23 versus 1/12,P<0.01).”

“This study shows that melatonin may prevent hypotension occurring during cancer immunotherapy with IL-2 or TNF.”

“In particular, our previous studies have demonstrated that the concomitant administration of the pineal neurohormone melatonin may amplify the antitumour efficacy of interleukin-2 (IL-2) in humans.”

“The percentage of survival at 1 year was significantly higher in patients treated with IL-2 and melatonin than in those receiving the supportive care alone (21/52 versus 5/48, P<0.005).”

“According to psychoneuroimmunological knowledge, the antitumor activity of IL-2 has been proven to be enhanced by the immunomodulating pineal neurohormone melatonin ( MLT ), which has also been shown to increase the cytotoxicity of cancer chemotherapy and reduce its toxicity.”

“In contrast, the increase in eosinophil mean number was significantly higher on IL-2 plus MLT alone.”

“Finally, preliminary clinical studies have already shown that the concommitant administration of MLT may amplify the efficacy of IL-2 in the treatment of advanced solid neoplasms, whereas there are no data about MLT influence on IL-2 activity in hematologic malignancies.”

“These preliminary results would suggest that the concomitant administration of low-dose IL-2 plus the pineal hormone MLT may prolong the survival time in untreatable advanced hematologic malignancies, with results comparable to those previously reported using a more toxic immunotherapy, consisting of high-dose IL-2 alone.”

“Melatonin MLT ), which is the main pineal hormone produced during the night, has appeared to amplify IL-2 anticancer activity.”

“This pilot study shows that the therapy with low-dose IL-2 plus MLT , in addition to its previously described antitumor activity, may also be effective in the treatment of cancer-related thrombocytopenia.”

“Our preliminary studies have shown that the pineal hormone melatonin may amplify IL-2 activity , which becomes active also at low doses in several tumor histotypes.”

“However, mean number of lymphocytes, T lymphocytes and T helper lymphocytes observed on day 1 of postoperative period was significantly higher in patients treated with IL-2 plus MLT than in those receiving IL-2 alone.”

“Moreover, experimental studies have demonstrated that the immunomodulating neurohormone melatonin MLT ) may amplify IL-2 activity and reduce its dose required to activate the immune system.”

“Our previous studies have shown that the pineal hormone melatonin (MLT) may amplify the antitumor activity of IL-2 , either through immunomodulating mechanisms or through a direct cytostatic activity by inhibiting tumor growth factor production.”