Disruption of circadian rhythms may affect cancer spread through molecular mechanisms and has clinical implications.

Circadian rhythm disruption is associated with multiple factors influencing cancer metastasis.

• Circadian rhythms, regulated by core molecules like BMAL1 and CLOCK, have a periodicity of approximately 24 hours.
• Disruption of circadian rhythms may influence processes related to cancer metastasis, including epithelial-mesenchymal transition and immune surveillance.
• Altered circadian rhythms could drive changes in the extracellular matrix, increasing matrix stiffness and creating a favorable environment for metastasis.
• Clock dysregulation may lead to immune system changes, such as T cell exhaustion and macrophage polarization favoring tumor growth.
• Targeting circadian molecules and using chronotherapy may present new therapeutic options for controlling cancer metastasis.

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