Melatonin interrupts osteoclast functioning and suppresses tumor-secreted RANKL expression: implications for bone metastases

Cancer-related bone erosion occurs frequently in bone metastasis and is associated with severe complications such as chronic bone pain, fractures, and lower survival rates. In recognition of the fact that the darkness hormone melatonin is capable of regulating bone homeostasis, we explored its therapeutic potential in bone metastasis. We found that melatonin directly reduces osteoclast differentiation, bone resorption activity and promotes apoptosis of mature osteoclasts. We also observed that melatonin inhibits RANKL production in lung and prostate cancer cells by downregulating the p38 MAPK pathway, which in turn prevents cancer-associated osteoclast differentiation. In lung and prostate bone metastasis models, twice-weekly melatonin treatment markedly reduced tumor volumes and numbers of osteolytic lesions. Melatonin also substantially lowered the numbers of TRAP-positive osteoclasts in tibia bone marrow and RANKL expression in tumor tissue. These findings show promise for melatonin in the treatment of bone metastases.