Rhythms of risk: the intersection of clocks, cancer, and chronotherapy

🥈 Top 2% JournalFeb 2, 2026The Journal of clinical investigation

Daily biological rhythms, cancer, and timed treatment strategies

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Abstract

Circadian clocks influence cell cycle, DNA repair, metabolism, and immune function, which are critical in cancer development.

  • Disruption of circadian regulators can either promote or suppress cancer, depending on tumor type and biological context.
  • This dual effect may result from changes in circadian physiology and direct interactions between clock components and cancer-related pathways.
  • Integrating circadian biology into precision oncology could enhance treatment effectiveness and reduce side effects.
  • Chronotherapy aims to optimize drug administration timing according to circadian rhythms to improve therapeutic outcomes.
  • Cancer type-specific investigations are necessary to fully realize the benefits of chronotherapy in cancer treatment.

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