The role of circadian clocks in cancer: Mechanisms and clinical implications

Huiwen Liu; Ying Liu; Rihan Hai; Weihua Liao; Xiangjian Luo

doi:10.1016/j.gendis.2022.05.014

The role of circadian clocks in cancer: Mechanisms and clinical implications

Genes Dis. 2022 May 28;10(4):1279-1290. doi: 10.1016/j.gendis.2022.05.014. eCollection 2023 Jul.

Authors

Huiwen Liu^{1

2}, Ying Liu³, Rihan Hai², Weihua Liao^{1

4}, Xiangjian Luo^{1

2

4

5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Invasion, Chinese Ministry of Education, Department of Radiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, China.
² Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, China.
³ Department of Medicine, Hunan Traditional Chinese Medical College, Zhuzhou, Hunan 412000, China.
⁴ Molecular Imaging Research Center of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, China.
⁵ Hunan Key Laboratory of Oncotarget Gene, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, China.
⁶ National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, China.

Abstract

Circadian rhythm refers to the inherent 24-h cycle oscillation of biochemical, physiological and behavioral functions, which is almost universal in eukaryotes. At least 14 core clock genes have been reported to form multiple chain feedback loops that confer intrinsic circadian rhythmicity onto the molecular clock. Accumulating evidence has shown that the circadian gene dysfunction resulted from single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), deletions, epigenetic modification, and deregulation is strongly associated with cancer risk. In the present review, we describe the composition of circadian rhythm system. We highlight the function and mechanism of clock genes in cancer pathogenesis and progression. Moreover, their potential clinical implications as prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets have been addressed.

Keywords: Cancer; Cancer metabolism; Chronotherapy; Circadian clock; Circadian rhythm; Tumor microenvironment.

Publication types

Review