Melatonin Incorporation into Hormone Replacement Therapy: A Potential Strategy to Decrease Breast Cancer Risk?

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Summary

This paper explores the potential of incorporating melatonin into hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as a strategy to mitigate breast cancer risk, particularly in women over 50. For lighting designers and healthcare practitioners, this underscores the importance of supporting healthy nocturnal melatonin production through appropriate light management, as light-at-night-induced melatonin suppression may contribute to elevated breast cancer risk.

Key Findings

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women worldwide, with over 2 million new cases in 2020, and ~80% of patients are aged >50.
The paper proposes melatonin supplementation within HRT regimens as a potential protective strategy against breast cancer, though specific quantitative trial outcomes are not reported in the abstract.
Molecular subtypes (Luminal A, Luminal B, HER2-enriched, basal-like) are identified as important for treatment stratification, suggesting melatonin's role may vary by subtype.

Categories

Sleep & Circadian Health: Discusses melatonin's role as a potential component of hormone replacement therapy, implicating circadian hormone regulation in cancer risk.

Mood & Mental Wellness: Melatonin's broader hormonal and protective roles have implications for wellbeing in postmenopausal women undergoing HRT.