Increase in motility and invasiveness of MCF7 cancer cells induced by nicotine is abolished by melatonin through inhibition of ERK phosphorylation
Through activation of the ERK pathway nicotine, in both normal MCF-10A and low malignant breast cancer cells (MCF7), promotes increased motility and invasiveness. Melatonin antagonizes both these effects by inhibiting almost completely ERK phosphorylation. As melatonin has no effect on not-stimulated cells, it is likely that melatonin can counteract ERK-activation only downstream of nicotine-induced activation.