Features of Melatonin Receptor Expression in Epithelial Ovarian Tumors
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Melatonin, a key regulator of circadian rhythms, exhibits pleiotropic biological effects, including antioxidant, antiproliferative, and immunomodulatory activities. Recent studies highlight its potential role in hormone-dependent malignancies, particularly epithelial ovarian carcinomas, where its receptor system (MT1, MT2) may exert significant oncostatic influence.
This critical review synthesizes current evidence on melatonin’s molecular and cellular functions, emphasizing its regulation of cell proliferation, apoptosis, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), angiogenesis, and chemoresistance. The review identifies key methodological limitations in existing studies and underscores the need for comprehensive, integrated analyses based on human tissue samples.
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