engleski

Melatonin and sleep quality in patients with oral cancer

Introduction: Low levels of melatonin (MLT) have been registered in patients with breast, prostate, lung, stomach and colon cancer. One of explanations for this was decreased sleep quality and increased fatigue in cancer patients. Although there is a significant improvement in oral cancer (OC) treatment in the last few years, a 5-year survival rate of these patients amounts to 60%. The aim of this research was to measure MLT in unstimulated whole saliva (UWS), stimulated whole saliva (SWS) and serum. Furthermore, the aim was to assess sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Materials and methods: Altogether, 34 patients with OC and 33 sex and age matched healthy control subjects were included in this study. All samples were tested using ELISA commercially available kits. Results: Melatonin levels in UWS were significantly higher (P<0.001) in the OC group [median: 3.1 (95% CI: 2.3-4.5)] compared to the control group [median: 0.7 (95% CI: 0.44- 1.52)]. Melatonin levels in the SWS were significantly higher (P<0, 001) in the experimental group [median: 1.7 (95% CI: 0.9- 2.6)] compared to the control group [median: 0.6 (95% CI: 0.1-1.0)]. Serum MLT levels were significantly higher in patients with OC compared to the reference values for serum MLT [median 13, 01 (95% CI: 10, 08 - 15, 14)]. Sleep quality was significantly lower in patients with OC (P = 0.0001, U=249.50). Conclusion: Salivary and serum MLT could present a potential diagnostic marker for OC. To our knowledge, this is the first study measuring MLT in OC patients.

melatonin ; saliva ; oral cancer

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