Altered expression profiles of clock genes hPer1 and hPer2 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of cancer patients undergoing surgery

Plasma melatonin levels decreased in both groups throughout the day after surgery.

• Expression of clock genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was assessed in patients with esophageal and early gastric cancer.
• The acrophase of hPer1 expression shifted significantly after surgery, indicating altered biological rhythms.
• In patients with esophageal cancer, hPer1 acrophase changed from 6:19±1:50 to 13:59±0:59 (p=0.0003).
• In patients with early gastric cancer, hPer1 acrophase changed from 7:47±1:27 to 12:33±1:30 (p=0.0043).
• The acrophase of hPer2 expression also shifted significantly, from 5:01±2:59 to 19:30±2:15 (p<0.0001) in esophageal cancer patients.
• Surgical stress may affect the biological clock and hormone levels in humans.

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