If you want to fall asleep in the sun, melatonin might be just what the doctor ordered. Melatonin, the hormone that affects skin pigmentation and has been widely touted as a slumber aid, now appears to prevent skin cancer in mice exposed to a powerful chemical carcinogen, researchers say. There's no evidence the approach works in people, but the finding bolsters previous research showing that melatonin seems to have cancer-fighting properties. Evidence that melatonin guards against tumors is "quite strong," says Dr. Russel Reiter, a cell biologist at the University of Texas in San Antonio and editor of the Journal of Pineal Research, named for the brain gland that produces melatonin. But "by any means, it's not a miracle" cure, Reiter says. The latest researcher was conducted at EFA Sciences, a Massachusetts biotechnology firm that specializes in finding novel treatments for cancer, diabetes, heart problems and other conditions. The finding is reported in the May-June issue of the journal Medical Science Monitor. Dr. U. N. Das, the firm's chairman and research director, says melatonin's hearty appetite for harmful oxygen particles called free radicals may explain its anti-tumor properties. "It is possible that melatonin may enhance DNA repair" by mopping up free radicals that trigger mutations by binding to the genetic molecule, Das says. Das and a colleague administered a topical solution of melatonin to mice exposed to benzo(a)pyrene, a known cancer-causing chemical. Animals treated with the salve were less likely to develop skin tumors and tended to have fewer lesions than those that didn't receive the solution, the researchers say. Das says a key question is how best to administer melatonin to capitalize on its anti-tumor properties. Another company study, which is being prepared for publication, found that oral doses of the molecule appear to shrink liver tumors in mice, he says. Whether an oral version could help skin cells is uncertain, Das says. However, Dr. David Blask, a melatonin expert at the Bassett Research Institute in Cooperstown, N.Y., says the newest research supports a slew of earlier reports that the substance quells tumors. Though most were studies in animals and lab dishes, Blask says Italian scientists claim some success in treating melanoma patients with melatonin, in addition to conventional cancer treatments. "Melatonin seems to have some anti-cancer properties by itself, but the preponderance of studies seem to indicate that it enhances the anti-cancer effects of chemotherapy or radiation," Blask says. In addition to quenching free radicals, the hormone appears to boost the immune system and interfere with overzealous cell growth. While experts confirm melatonin's use to improve sleep and avoid jet lag, claims that it can reverse the aging process were deflated by Harvard researchers last year. What To Do Right now, experts say there's not enough evidence to support using melatonin as a cancer treatment. But the newest results likely will spur more research into the hormone's properties. Thanks to Adam Marcus and HealthSCOUT 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.