Night time light affects breast cancer drug: Study

A new research says that any night time light exposure prevents drugs from working on breast cancer cells.

Tulane University researchers conducted a study on laboratory rats by implanting human breast cancer cells and let some to sleep in the dark and rest in dim light.

"For these rats, the intensity of light was in a completely dark room and the equivalent of a little crack under the door," explained Dr. Hill, Director of the Tulane Center for Circadian Biology, wwltv.com reports.

The study could differentiate the tumor development in rats that slept in dim light and darkness. The rats that slept in the dim light showed a decrease in melatonin secretion, which inhibited the action of Tamoxifen drug (used to treat the cancer) on the cancer cells

The growth rate of the tumor was higher under light as the lights waves decreased the production of melatonin.

Dr Steven Hill told the BBC, "People could make sure they sleep in a room that is completely dark or they could wear eye-masks to let night-time melatonin rise and take Tamoxifen right before going to bed, that would be the easiest way to see if it works."

This researchers said that patients should not take over the counter melatonin to enhance the secretion of hormones but let the body make and regulate its own melatonin by providing proper sleep at night in solid darkness.

"You make sure you get no less than eight hours of sleep a night in a completely dark room, but if you have insomnia and you wake up, don't get up and turn on the lights," and suggests to breast cancer patients."Take your Tamoxifen at night before you go to bed." said Dr Hill.

The study was published in the journal Cancer Research.