How the body’s internal clock genes CLOCK and BMAL1 relate to cancer and possible treatments

Circadian rhythm disruption is closely associated with the development of various malignancies.

• Alterations in circadian gene expression profiles are observed in tumor tissues, indicating a dysfunction in core clock components.
• Core clock proteins CLOCK and BMAL1 exhibit non-canonical oncogenic functions, including epigenetic regulation.
• Dysregulation of circadian genes is linked to cell cycle control, DNA damage response, and metabolic reprogramming in cancer.
• The tumor microenvironment (TME) may be remodeled by the effects of CLOCK/BMAL1 on cancer pathways.
• Therapeutic strategies include chrononutritional interventions and chronopharmacological modulation aimed at optimizing treatment regimens.

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