Lissoni P, Viviani S, Bajetta E, Buzzoni R, Barreca A, Mauri R, Resentini M, Morabito F, Esposti D, Esposti G
Cancer. 1986 Feb 15;57(4):837-42. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(19860215)57:4<837::aid-cncr2820570425>3.0.co;2-o.
It has been known for many years that the pineal gland is involved in regulating tumor growth. In order to evaluate the functional activity of the pineal gland in neoplastic diseases, melatonin serum levels and its light/dark rhythm have been determined with the RIA method in patients affected by various forms of tumor. Irrespectively of the type of the tumor and of its localization, existence of two subpopulations has been observed within the oncologic patients, the former with normal levels of melatonin, and the latter with high ones. The light/dark rhythm of melatonin was anomalous in some cases. An evident decrease of serum melatonin values was seen after chemotherapy. It might be interesting to establish whether melatonin levels may conditionate the prognosis of patients with cancer.
多年来人们已经知道松果体参与调节肿瘤生长。为了评估松果体在肿瘤疾病中的功能活性，采用放射免疫分析法测定了患有各种肿瘤的患者血清褪黑素水平及其昼夜节律。无论肿瘤的类型及其定位如何，在肿瘤患者中都观察到存在两个亚群，前者褪黑素水平正常，后者水平较高。褪黑素的昼夜节律在某些情况下是异常的。化疗后血清褪黑素值明显下降。确定褪黑素水平是否可能影响癌症患者的预后可能会很有意思。
