Psycho-Oncology: Discover How Stress Causes Cancer
Phase 1 of Cancer: Inescapable Shock
Phase 2 of Cancer: Adrenaline Depletion
Phase 3 of Cancer: The Cancer Fungus
Phase 4 of Cancer: Niacin Deficiency
Phase 5 of Cancer: Vitamin C Depletion
Phase 6 of Cancer: Immune Suppression
MELATONIN, MEDITATION AND CANCER
Melatonin is a primary regulator of the immune system, responsible for inhibiting cancer cell growth. Melatonin inhibits cancer cell growth by producing Interleukin-1 and Inlerleukin-2. Interleukin-1 protects against microbial infection and Interleukin-2 governs immune system T cells, B cells and Natural Killer cells, which destroy rogue cancer cells. What is important to know is that melatonin is produced by the pineal gland during deep sleep [between the hours of 1am and 3am in the morning] and disruption to sleep patterns due to chronic psycho-emotional stress means melatonin levels are significantly reduced, putting those with chronic stress and disrupted deep sleep patterns at greater risk of developing cancer. Studies below show melatonin inhibits cancer cell growth and further studies below show those who meditate have higher levels of melatonin and significantly reduced incidence of cancer and other chronic illness.
WORLD RESEARCH: MELATONIN INHIBITS CANCER CELL GROWTH
1. The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, China conducted a review of 8 randomized controlled studies to determine the effect of melatonin on tumour growth. "We performed a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of melatonin in 761 sold tumor cancer patients and observed its effect on tumor remission, 1-year survival, and side effects due to radiochemotherapy. The dosage of melatonin used in the 8 included RCTs was 20 mg orally, once a day. Melatonin significantly improved the complete and partial remission (16.5 vs. 32.6%; RR = 1.95, 95% CI, 1.49-2.54) as well as 1-year survival rate (28.4 vs. 52.2%; RR = 1.90; 95% CI, 1.28-2.83), and dramatically decreased radiochemotherapy-related side effects including thrombocytopenia (19.7 vs. 2.2%; RR = 0.13; 95% CI, 0.06-0.28), neurotoxicity (15.2 vs. 2.5%; RR = 0.19; 95% CI, 0.09-0.40), and fatigue (49.1 vs. 17.2%; RR = 0.37; 95% CI, 0.28-0.48). Melatonin as an adjuvant therapy for cancer led to substantial improvements in tumor remission, 1-year survival, and alleviation of radiochemotherapy-related side effects." [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22271210]
2. In a study of mice conducted by the University of Seville School of Medicine and Virgen Macarena Hospital, Seville, Spain, researchers found: "Melatonin exhibits oncostatic properties, but the actual mechanism of action by which the indole (melatonin compound) reduces tumor cell activity is not clear. Telomerase is an enzyme responsible of telomere elongation and is activated in most human cancers. In the current in vivo study, eight nude mice received a MCF-7 [human breast cancer] xenograft and thereafter they were treated for 5 weeks with 0.1 mg/mL of melatonin in the drinking water. Melatonin treatment caused a significant reduction in the weight of tumors and reduced metastases when compared with the control group." [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12932205]
3. The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine reviewed data from 21 clinical trials to determine the effect of melatonin on tumour cell growth and found: "The authors systematically reviewed the effects of MLT (melatonin) in conjunction with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, supportive care, and palliative care on 1-year survival, complete response, partial response, stable disease, and chemotherapy-associated toxicities. The authors included data from 21 clinical trials, all of which dealt with solid tumors. The pooled relative risk (RR) for 1-year mortality was 0.63 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.53-0.74; P < .001). Improved effect was found for complete response, partial response, and stable disease with RRs of 2.33 (95% CI = 1.29-4.20), 1.90 (1.43-2,51), and 1.51 (1.08-2.12), respectively. In trials combining MLT (melatonin) with chemotherapy, adjuvant MLT decreased 1-year mortality (RR = 0.60; 95% CI = 0.54-0.67) and improved outcomes of complete response, partial response, and stable disease; pooled RRs were 2.53 (1.36-4.71), 1.70 (1.37-2.12), and 1.15 (1.00-1.33), respectively." [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22019490]
4. The Division of Radiation Oncology, S. Gerardo Hospital, Italy studied the effects of melatonin on patients with advanced stage cancer and found: "The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of concomitant MLT (melatonin) administration on toxicity and efficacy of several chemotherapeutic combinations in advanced cancer patients with poor clinical status. The study included 250 metastatic solid tumour patients (lung cancer, 104; breast cancer, 77; gastrointestinal tract neoplasms, 42; head and neck cancers, 27), who were randomized to receive MLT (melatonin) (20 mg/day orally every day) plus chemotherapy, or chemotherapy alone. The 1-year survival rate and the objective tumour regression rate were significantly higher in patients concomitantly treated with MLT (melatonin) than in those who received chemotherapy (CT) alone (tumour response rate: 42/124 CT + MLT versus 19/126 CT only; 1-year survival: 63/124 CT + MLT versus 29/126 CT only." [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10674014]
5. The Division of Radiation Oncology, S. Gerardo Hospital, Italy studied the effects of melatonin on patients with non-small lung cancer and found: "The present study was performed to assess the 5-year survival results in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer patients obtained with a chemotherapeutic regimen consisting of cisplatin and etoposide, with or without the concomitant administration of melatonin (20 mg/day orally in the evening). The study included 100 consecutive patients who were randomized to receive chemotherapy alone or chemotherapy and melatonin. Both the overall tumor regression rate and the 5-year survival results were significantly higher in patients concomitantly treated with melatonin. In particular, no patient treated with chemotherapy alone was alive after 2 years, whereas the 5-year survival was achieved in three of 49 (6%) patients treated with chemotherapy and melatonin." [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12823608]
6. The Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Anhui Medical University, China studied the effects of melatonin on patients with gastric cancer. "We investigated the effects of melatonin on cell proliferation, apoptosis (cell death), colony formation and cell migration in the gastric adenocarcinoma cell line, SGC7901, using MTT assay, Hoechst 33258 staining, flow cytometry, western blot, caspase-3 activity assay, soft agar colony formation assay, and scratch-wound assay. Our results showed that melatonin could inhibit cell proliferation, colony formation and migration efficiency, and it promoted apoptosis (programmed cell death) of SGC7901 cells. Our findings suggest that the anti-cancer effects of melatonin may be due to both inhibition of tumor cell proliferation and reduction of the metastatic potential of tumor cells." [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23477595]
7. The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St Marianna University School of Medicine, Japan studied the effects of melatonin on patients with endometrial cancer and found melatonin significantly inhibited cancer cell growth. "The effect of melatonin on endometrial cancer cell growth was investigated using two cell lines, SNG-II and Ishikawa, which are different in their estrogen receptor status. Melatonin significantly inhibited Ishikawa cells, which are estrogen receptor-positive at all cell densities tested after 96 hr incubation. The greatest inhibition of Ishikawa cell growth was observed at 10(-9) M melatonin, compared with other supra (10(-6), 10(-8) M) or subphysiological concentrations (10(-10), 10(-12) M). This is the first study to determine an anti-proliferative effect of physiological melatonin on endometrial cancer cells in vitro." [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10831158]
2. In a study of mice conducted by the University of Seville School of Medicine and Virgen Macarena Hospital, Seville, Spain, researchers found: "Melatonin exhibits oncostatic properties, but the actual mechanism of action by which the indole (melatonin compound) reduces tumor cell activity is not clear. Telomerase is an enzyme responsible of telomere elongation and is activated in most human cancers. In the current in vivo study, eight nude mice received a MCF-7 [human breast cancer] xenograft and thereafter they were treated for 5 weeks with 0.1 mg/mL of melatonin in the drinking water. Melatonin treatment caused a significant reduction in the weight of tumors and reduced metastases when compared with the control group." [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12932205]
3. The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine reviewed data from 21 clinical trials to determine the effect of melatonin on tumour cell growth and found: "The authors systematically reviewed the effects of MLT (melatonin) in conjunction with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, supportive care, and palliative care on 1-year survival, complete response, partial response, stable disease, and chemotherapy-associated toxicities. The authors included data from 21 clinical trials, all of which dealt with solid tumors. The pooled relative risk (RR) for 1-year mortality was 0.63 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.53-0.74; P < .001). Improved effect was found for complete response, partial response, and stable disease with RRs of 2.33 (95% CI = 1.29-4.20), 1.90 (1.43-2,51), and 1.51 (1.08-2.12), respectively. In trials combining MLT (melatonin) with chemotherapy, adjuvant MLT decreased 1-year mortality (RR = 0.60; 95% CI = 0.54-0.67) and improved outcomes of complete response, partial response, and stable disease; pooled RRs were 2.53 (1.36-4.71), 1.70 (1.37-2.12), and 1.15 (1.00-1.33), respectively." [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22019490]
4. The Division of Radiation Oncology, S. Gerardo Hospital, Italy studied the effects of melatonin on patients with advanced stage cancer and found: "The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of concomitant MLT (melatonin) administration on toxicity and efficacy of several chemotherapeutic combinations in advanced cancer patients with poor clinical status. The study included 250 metastatic solid tumour patients (lung cancer, 104; breast cancer, 77; gastrointestinal tract neoplasms, 42; head and neck cancers, 27), who were randomized to receive MLT (melatonin) (20 mg/day orally every day) plus chemotherapy, or chemotherapy alone. The 1-year survival rate and the objective tumour regression rate were significantly higher in patients concomitantly treated with MLT (melatonin) than in those who received chemotherapy (CT) alone (tumour response rate: 42/124 CT + MLT versus 19/126 CT only; 1-year survival: 63/124 CT + MLT versus 29/126 CT only." [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10674014]
5. The Division of Radiation Oncology, S. Gerardo Hospital, Italy studied the effects of melatonin on patients with non-small lung cancer and found: "The present study was performed to assess the 5-year survival results in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer patients obtained with a chemotherapeutic regimen consisting of cisplatin and etoposide, with or without the concomitant administration of melatonin (20 mg/day orally in the evening). The study included 100 consecutive patients who were randomized to receive chemotherapy alone or chemotherapy and melatonin. Both the overall tumor regression rate and the 5-year survival results were significantly higher in patients concomitantly treated with melatonin. In particular, no patient treated with chemotherapy alone was alive after 2 years, whereas the 5-year survival was achieved in three of 49 (6%) patients treated with chemotherapy and melatonin." [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12823608]
6. The Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Anhui Medical University, China studied the effects of melatonin on patients with gastric cancer. "We investigated the effects of melatonin on cell proliferation, apoptosis (cell death), colony formation and cell migration in the gastric adenocarcinoma cell line, SGC7901, using MTT assay, Hoechst 33258 staining, flow cytometry, western blot, caspase-3 activity assay, soft agar colony formation assay, and scratch-wound assay. Our results showed that melatonin could inhibit cell proliferation, colony formation and migration efficiency, and it promoted apoptosis (programmed cell death) of SGC7901 cells. Our findings suggest that the anti-cancer effects of melatonin may be due to both inhibition of tumor cell proliferation and reduction of the metastatic potential of tumor cells." [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23477595]
7. The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St Marianna University School of Medicine, Japan studied the effects of melatonin on patients with endometrial cancer and found melatonin significantly inhibited cancer cell growth. "The effect of melatonin on endometrial cancer cell growth was investigated using two cell lines, SNG-II and Ishikawa, which are different in their estrogen receptor status. Melatonin significantly inhibited Ishikawa cells, which are estrogen receptor-positive at all cell densities tested after 96 hr incubation. The greatest inhibition of Ishikawa cell growth was observed at 10(-9) M melatonin, compared with other supra (10(-6), 10(-8) M) or subphysiological concentrations (10(-10), 10(-12) M). This is the first study to determine an anti-proliferative effect of physiological melatonin on endometrial cancer cells in vitro." [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10831158]
WORLD RESEARCH: MEDITATION PRODUCES MELATONIN
1. Melatonin is produced by the pineal gland during theta and delta brainwave activity, which occurs during REM or deep sleep and also during meditation. In a study conducted by the School of Psychology, La Trobe University, Australia, researchers found: "Experienced meditators practising either TM-Sidhi or another internationally well known form of yoga showed significantly higher plasma melatonin levels in the period immediately following meditation compared with the same period at the same time on a control night. It is concluded that meditation, at least in the two forms studied here, can affect plasma melatonin levels." [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10876066]
2. In a ground-breaking study initiated by the National Institutes of Health and conducted by the Maharishi International University, Iowa, researchers found transcendental meditation improved health outcomes significantly: "This field study compared 5 years of medical insurance utilization statistics of approximately 2000 regular participants in the Transcendental Meditation (TM) program with a normative data base of approximately 600,000 members of the same insurance carrier. The benefits, deductible, coinsurance terms, and distribution by gender of the TM group were very similar to the norm, yet the TM group had lower medical utilization rates in all categories. Inpatient days per 1000 by age category were 50.2% fewer than the norm for children (0-18), 50.1% few for young adults (19-39), and 69.4% fewer for older adults (40+). Outpatient visits per 1000 for the same age categories were, respectively, 46.8%, 54.7%, and 73.7% fewer. When compared with five other health insurance groups of similar size and professional membership, the TM group had 53.3% few inpatient admissions per 1000 and 44.4% few outpatient visits per 1000. Admissions per 1000 were lower for the TM group than the norm for all of 17 major medical treatment categories, including -55.4% for benign and malignant tumors -87.3% for heart disease, -30.4% for all infectious diseases, -30.6% for all mental disorders, and -87.3% for diseases of the nervous system. However, the TM group's admission rates for childbirth were similar to the norm. The issue of self-selection is addressed in terms of previous medical research in this area." [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3313489]
2. In a ground-breaking study initiated by the National Institutes of Health and conducted by the Maharishi International University, Iowa, researchers found transcendental meditation improved health outcomes significantly: "This field study compared 5 years of medical insurance utilization statistics of approximately 2000 regular participants in the Transcendental Meditation (TM) program with a normative data base of approximately 600,000 members of the same insurance carrier. The benefits, deductible, coinsurance terms, and distribution by gender of the TM group were very similar to the norm, yet the TM group had lower medical utilization rates in all categories. Inpatient days per 1000 by age category were 50.2% fewer than the norm for children (0-18), 50.1% few for young adults (19-39), and 69.4% fewer for older adults (40+). Outpatient visits per 1000 for the same age categories were, respectively, 46.8%, 54.7%, and 73.7% fewer. When compared with five other health insurance groups of similar size and professional membership, the TM group had 53.3% few inpatient admissions per 1000 and 44.4% few outpatient visits per 1000. Admissions per 1000 were lower for the TM group than the norm for all of 17 major medical treatment categories, including -55.4% for benign and malignant tumors -87.3% for heart disease, -30.4% for all infectious diseases, -30.6% for all mental disorders, and -87.3% for diseases of the nervous system. However, the TM group's admission rates for childbirth were similar to the norm. The issue of self-selection is addressed in terms of previous medical research in this area." [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3313489]
