Circadian clock, carcinogenesis, chronochemotherapy connections

Impact of psychiatric disorders on the risk of glioma: Mendelian randomization and biological annotation

BACKGROUND

The conflicting results about the relationship between certain psychiatric disorders and glioma has been reported in previous studies. Moreover, little is known about the common pathogenic mechanism between psychiatric symptoms and glioma. This study aims to find out mental disorders related etiology of glioma and to interpret the underlying biological mechanisms.

METHODS

A panel of SNPs significantly associated with eight psychiatric disorders (ADHD, SCZ, Insomnia, NEU, MDD, MI, BIP, and SWB) were identified as exposure related genetic instruments. Summary GWAS data for glioma comes from eight independent datasets. Two sample Mendelian randomization study was undertaken by IVW, RAPS, MR.Corr, and BWMR methods. This study incorporated the glioma associated CGGA cohort and Rembrandt cohort. ssGSEA, variance expression, and KEGG were conducted to analyze the psychiatric disorders associated genes expression profiling and associated functional enrichment in the glioma patients.

RESULTS

ADHD increased the risk of all glioma (OR = 1.15, 95%CI = 1.01-1.29, P = 0.028) and non-GBM glioma (OR = 1.33, 95%CI = 1.12-1.58, P = 0.001). Similarly, SCZ displayed a suggestive relationship with all glioma (OR = 1.09, 95%CI = 1.04-1.14, P = 3.47 × 10-4) and non-GBM glioma (OR = 1.14, 95%CI = 1.08-1.21, P = 7.37 × 10-6). Besides, insomnia was correlated with the risk of non-GBM glioma (OR = 1.49, 95%CI = 1.03-2.17, P = 0.036). The ADHD/SCZ/Insomnia associated DEGs of glioma patients were enriched in neurotransmitter signaling pathway, immune reaction, adhesion, invasion, and metastasis, regulating the pluripotency of stem cells, metabolism of glycan, lipid and amino acids.

LIMITATIONS

The extensibility of the conclusion to other ethnic and geographical groups should be careful because the data used in this study come from European.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides genetic evidence to suggest ADHD, SCZ, and insomnia as causes of glioma and common pathogenic process between ADHD/Insomnia/SCZ and glioma.

Circadian rhythms and breast cancer: unraveling the biological clock's role in tumor microenvironment and ageing

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common and fatal malignancies among women worldwide. Circadian rhythms have emerged in recent studies as being involved in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. In this paper, we reviewed the molecular mechanisms by which the dysregulation of the circadian genes impacts the development of BC, focusing on the critical clock genes, brain and muscle ARNT-like protein 1 (BMAL1) and circadian locomotor output cycles kaput (CLOCK). We discussed how the circadian rhythm disruption (CRD) changes the tumor microenvironment (TME), immune responses, inflammation, and angiogenesis. The CRD compromises immune surveillance and features and activities of immune effectors, including CD8+ T cells and tumor-associated macrophages, that are important in an effective anti-tumor response. Meanwhile, in this review, we discuss bidirectional interactions: age and circadian rhythms, aging further increases the risk of breast cancer through reduced vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), affecting suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) synchronization, reduced ability to repair damaged DNA, and weakened immunity. These complex interplays open new avenues toward targeted therapies by the combination of clock drugs with chronotherapy to potentiate the immune response while reducing tumor progression for better breast cancer outcomes. This review tries to cover the broad area of emerging knowledge on the tumor-immune nexus affected by the circadian rhythm in breast cancer.

Genome-wide analysis of transcription-coupled repair reveals novel transcription events in Caenorhabditis elegans

Bulky DNA adducts such as those induced by ultraviolet light are removed from the genomes of multicellular organisms by nucleotide excision repair, which occurs through two distinct mechanisms, global repair, requiring the DNA damage recognition-factor XPC (xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group C), and transcription-coupled repair (TCR), which does not. TCR is initiated when elongating RNA polymerase II encounters DNA damage, and thus analysis of genome-wide excision repair in XPC-mutants only repairing by TCR provides a unique opportunity to map transcription events missed by methods dependent on capturing RNA transcription products and thus limited by their stability and/or modifications (5'-capping or 3'-polyadenylation). Here, we have performed eXcision Repair-sequencing (XR-seq) in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans to generate genome-wide repair maps in a wild-type strain with normal excision repair, a strain lacking TCR (csb-1), and a strain that only repairs by TCR (xpc-1). Analysis of the intersections between the xpc-1 XR-seq repair maps with RNA-mapping datasets (RNA-seq, long- and short-capped RNA-seq) reveal previously unrecognized sites of transcription and further enhance our understanding of the genome of this important model organism.

Chronophysiology of domestic animals

This review highlights recent findings on biological rhythms and discusses their implications for the management and production of domestic animals. Biological rhythms provide temporal coordination between organs and tissues in order to anticipate environmental changes, orchestrating biochemical, physiological and behavioural processes as the right process may occur at the right time. This allows animals to adapt their internal physiological functions, such as sleep-wake cycles, body temperature, hormone secretion, food intake and regulation of physical performance to environmental stimuli that constantly change. The study and evaluation of biological rhythms of various physiological parameters allows the assessment of the welfare status of animals. Alteration of biological rhythms represents an imbalance of the state of homeostasis that can be found in different management conditions.

The environment and the internal clocks: The study of their relationships from prehistoric to modern times

The origin of biological rhythms goes back to the very beginning of life. They are observed in the animal and plant world at all levels of organization, from cells to ecosystems. As early as the 18th century, plant scientists were the first to explain the relationship between flowering cycles and environmental cycles, emphasizing the importance of daily light-dark cycles and the seasons. Our temporal structure is controlled by external and internal rhythmic signals. Light is the main synchronizer of the circadian system, as daily exposure to light entrains our clock over 24 hours, the endogenous period of the circadian system being close to, but not exactly, 24 hours. In 1960, a seminal scientific meeting, the Cold Spring Harbor Symposium on Biological Rhythms, brought together all the biological rhythms scientists of the time, a number of whom are considered the founders of modern chronobiology. All aspects of biological rhythms were addressed, from the properties of circadian rhythms to their practical and ecological aspects. Birth of chronobiology dates from this period, with the definition of its vocabulary and specificities in metabolism, photoperiodism, animal physiology, etc. At around the same time, and right up to the present day, research has focused on melatonin, the circadian neurohormone of the pineal gland, with data on its pattern, metabolism, control by light and clinical applications. However, light has a double face, as it has positive effects as a circadian clock entraining agent, but also deleterious effects, as it can lead to chronodisruption when exposed chronically at night, which can increase the risk of cancer and other diseases. Finally, research over the past few decades has unraveled the anatomical location of circadian clocks and their cellular and molecular mechanisms. This recent research has in turn allowed us to explain how circadian rhythms control physiology and health.

Epigenetic control of circadian clocks by environmental signals

Circadian clocks have evolved to enable organisms to respond to daily environmental changes. Maintaining a robust circadian rhythm under various perturbations and stresses is essential for the fitness of an organism. In the core circadian oscillator conserved in eukaryotes (from fungi to mammals), a negative feedback loop based on both transcription and translation drives circadian rhythms. The expression of circadian clock genes depends both on the binding of transcription activators at the promoter and on the chromatin state of the clock genes, and epigenetic modifications of chromatin are crucial for transcriptional regulation of circadian clock genes. Herein we review current knowledge of epigenetic regulation of circadian clock mechanisms and discuss how environmental cues can control clock gene expression by affecting chromatin states.

Mutations of the circadian clock genes Cry, Per, or Bmal1 have different effects on the transcribed and nontranscribed strands of cycling genes

One important goal of circadian medicine is to apply time-of-day dosing to improve the efficacy of chemotherapy. However, limited knowledge of how the circadian clock regulates DNA repair presents a challenge to mechanism-based clinical application. We studied time-series genome-wide nucleotide excision repair in liver and kidney of wild type and three different clock mutant genotypes (Cry1-/-Cry2-/-, Per1-/-Per2-/-, and Bmal1-/-). Rhythmic repair on the nontranscribed strand was lost in all three clock mutants. Conversely, rhythmic repair of hundreds of genes on the transcribed strand (TSs) persisted in the livers of Cry1-/-Cry2-/- and Per1-/-Per2-/- mice. We identified a tissue-specific, promoter element-driven repair mode on TSs of collagen and angiogenesis genes in the absence of clock activators or repressors. Furthermore, repair on TSs of thousands of genes was altered when the circadian clock is disrupted. These data contribute to a better understanding of the regulatory role of the circadian clock on nucleotide excision repair in mammals and may be invaluable toward the design of time-aware platinum-based interventions in cancer.

"Time Is out of Joint" in Pluripotent Stem Cells: How and Why

The circadian rhythm is necessary for the homeostasis and health of living organisms. Molecular clocks interconnected by transcription/translation feedback loops exist in most cells of the body. A puzzling exemption to this, otherwise, general biological hallmark is given by the cell physiology of pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) that lack circadian oscillations gradually acquired following their in vivo programmed differentiation. This process can be nicely phenocopied following in vitro commitment and reversed during the reprogramming of somatic cells to induce PSCs. The current understanding of how and why pluripotency is "time-uncoupled" is largely incomplete. A complex picture is emerging where the circadian core clockwork is negatively regulated in PSCs at the post-transcriptional/translational, epigenetic, and other-clock-interaction levels. Moreover, non-canonical functions of circadian core-work components in the balance between pluripotency identity and metabolic-driven cell reprogramming are emerging. This review selects and discusses results of relevant recent investigations providing major insights into this context.

Circadian clock and lipid metabolism disorders: a potential therapeutic strategy for cancer

Recent research has emphasized the interaction between the circadian clock and lipid metabolism, particularly in relation to tumors. This review aims to explore how the circadian clock regulates lipid metabolism and its impact on carcinogenesis. Specifically, targeting key enzymes involved in fatty acid synthesis (SREBP, ACLY, ACC, FASN, and SCD) has been identified as a potential strategy for cancer therapy. By disrupting these enzymes, it may be possible to inhibit tumor growth by interfering with lipid metabolism. Transcription factors, like SREBP play a significant role in regulating fatty acid synthesis which is influenced by circadian clock genes such as BMAL1, REV-ERB and DEC. This suggests a strong connection between fatty acid synthesis and the circadian clock. Therefore, successful combination therapy should target fatty acid synthesis in addition to considering the timing and duration of drug use. Ultimately, personalized chronotherapy can enhance drug efficacy in cancer treatment and achieve treatment goals.

Circadian Clock Dysregulation and Prostate Cancer: A Molecular and Clinical Overview

Circadian clock dysregulation has been implicated in various types of cancer and represents an area of growing research. However, the role of the circadian clock in prostate cancer has been relatively unexplored. This literature review will highlight the potential role of circadian clock dysregulation in prostate cancer by examining molecular, epidemiologic, and clinical data. The influence of melatonin, light, night shift work, chronotherapy, and androgen independence are discussed as they relate to the existing literature on their role in prostate cancer.

The role of circadian clock genes in colorectal carcinoma: Novel insights into regulatory mechanism and implications in clinical therapy

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a lethal malignancy with limited treatment strategies. Accumulating evidence indicates that CRC tumorigenesis, progression and metastasis are intimately associated with circadian clock, an inherent 24-h cycle oscillation of biochemical, physiological functions in almost every eukaryote. In the present review, we summarize the altered expression level of circadian genes in CRC and the prognosis associated with gene abundance switch. We illustrate the function and potential mechanisms of circadian genes in CRC pathogenesis and progression. Moreover, circadian based-therapeutic strategies including chronotherapy, therapeutics targeting potential circadian components, and melatonin treatment in CRC are also highlighted.

Role of the Circadian Gas-Responsive Hemeprotein NPAS2 in Physiology and Pathology

Neuronal PAS domain protein 2 (NPAS2) is a hemeprotein comprising a basic helix-loop-helix domain (bHLH) and two heme-binding sites, the PAS-A and PAS-B domains. This protein acts as a pyridine nucleotide-dependent and gas-responsive CO-dependent transcription factor and is encoded by a gene whose expression fluctuates with circadian rhythmicity. NPAS2 is a core cog of the molecular clockwork and plays a regulatory role on metabolic pathways, is important for the function of the central nervous system in mammals, and is involved in carcinogenesis as well as in normal biological functions and processes, such as cardiovascular function and wound healing. We reviewed the scientific literature addressing the various facets of NPAS2 and framing this gene/protein in several and very different research and clinical fields.

Preservation of circadian rhythm in hepatocellular cancer

Circadian rhythms are controlled at the cellular level by a molecular clock consisting of several genes/proteins engaged in a transcription-translation-degradation feedback loop. These core clock proteins regulate thousands of tissue-specific genes. Regarding circadian control in neoplastic tissues, reports to date have demonstrated anomalous circadian function in tumor models and cultured tumor cells. We have extended these studies by analyzing circadian rhythmicity genome-wide in a mouse model of liver cancer, in which mice treated with diethylnitrosamine at 15 days develop liver tumors by 6 months. We injected tumor-bearing and control tumor-free mice with cisplatin every 2 h over a 24-h cycle; 2 h after each injection mice were sacrificed and gene expression was measured by XR-Seq (excision repair sequencing) assay. Rhythmic expression of several core clock genes was observed in both healthy liver and tumor, with clock genes in tumor exhibiting typically robust amplitudes and a modest phase advance. Interestingly, although normal hepatic cells and hepatoma cancer cells expressed a comparable number of genes with circadian rhythmicity (clock-controlled genes), there was only about 10% overlap between the rhythmic genes in normal and cancerous cells. "Rhythmic in tumor only" genes exhibited peak expression times mainly in daytime hours, in contrast to the more common pre-dawn and pre-dusk expression times seen in healthy livers. Differential expression of genes in tumors and healthy livers across time may present an opportunity for more efficient anticancer drug treatment as a function of treatment time.

The Role of the Kynurenine/AhR Pathway in Diseases Related to Metabolism and Cancer

The Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a xenobiotic and endobiotic receptor, which regulates many cellular processes from contaminant metabolism to immunomodulation. Consequently, it is also involved in pathophysiological pathways and now represents a potential therapeutical target. In this review, we will highlight the ancestral function of the protein together with an illustration of its ligand's battery, emphasizing the different responses triggered by these high diverse molecules. Among them, several members of the kynurenine pathway (one key process of tryptophan catabolism) are AhR agonists and are subsequently involved in regulatory functions. We will finally display the interplay between Tryptophan (Trp) catabolism and dysregulation in metabolic pathways drawing hypothesis on the involvement of the AhR pathway in these cancer-related processes.

The circadian clock circuitry modulates leukemia initiating cell activity in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

BACKGROUND

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive hematological malignancy, characterized by restricted cellular subsets with asymmetrically enriched leukemia initiating cell (LIC) activity. Nonetheless, it is still unclear which signaling programs promote LIC maintenance and progression.

METHODS

Here, we evaluated the role of the biological clock in the regulation of the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways impacting the cellular dynamics in T-ALL through an integrated experimental approach including gene expression profiling of shRNA-modified T-ALL cell lines and Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Sequencing (ChIP-Seq) of leukemic cells. Patient-derived xenograft (PDXs) cell subsets were also genetically manipulated in order to assess the LIC activity modulated by the loss of biological clock in human T-ALL.

RESULTS

We report that the disruption of the circadian clock circuitry obtained through shRNA-mediated knockdown of CLOCK and BMAL1 genes negatively impacted the growth in vitro as well as the activity in vivo of LIC derived from PDXs after transplantation into immunodeficient recipient mice. Additionally, gene expression data integrated with ChIP-Seq profiles of leukemic cells revealed that the circadian clock directly promotes the expression of genes, such as IL20RB, crucially involved in JAK/STAT signaling, making the T-ALL cells more responsive to Interleukin 20 (IL20).

CONCLUSION

Taken together, our data support the concept that the biological clock drives the expression of IL20R prompting JAK/STAT signaling and promoting LIC activity in T-ALL and suggest that the selective targeting of circadian components could be therapeutically relevant for the treatment of T-ALL patients.

A Review of Evidence for the Involvement of the Circadian Clock Genes into Malignant Transformation of Thyroid Tissue

(1) Background: In 2013, the results of a pioneer study on abnormalities in the levels and circadian rhythmicity of expression of circadian clock genes in cancerous thyroid nodules was published. In the following years, new findings suggesting the involvement of circadian clockwork dysfunction into malignant transformation of thyroid tissue were gradually accumulating. This systematic review provides an update on existing evidence regarding the association of these genes with thyroid tumorigenesis. (2) Methods: Two bibliographic databases (Scopus and PubMed) were searched for articles from inception to 20 March 2023. The reference lists of previously published (nonsystematic) reviews were also hand-searched for additional relevant studies. (3) Results: Nine studies published between 2013 and 2022 were selected. In total, 9 of 12 tested genes were found to be either up- or downregulated. The list of such genes includes all families of core circadian clock genes that are the key components of three transcriptional-translational feedback loops of the circadian clock mechanism (BMAL1, CLOCK, NPAS2, RORα, REV-ERBα, PERs, CRYs, and DECs). (4) Conclusions: Examination of abnormalities in the levels and circadian rhythmicity of expression of circadian clock genes in thyroid tissue can help to reduce the rate of inadequate differential preoperative diagnosis for thyroid carcinoma.

Nucleotide excision repair in Human cell lines lacking both XPC and CSB proteins

Nucleotide excision repair removes UV-induced DNA damage through two distinct sub-pathways, global repair and transcription-coupled repair (TCR). Numerous studies have shown that in human and other mammalian cell lines that the XPC protein is required for repair of DNA damage from nontranscribed DNA via global repair and the CSB protein is required for repair of lesions from transcribed DNA via TCR. Therefore, it is generally assumed that abrogating both sub-pathways with an XPC-/-/CSB-/- double mutant would eliminate all nucleotide excision repair. Here we describe the construction of three different XPC-/-/CSB-/- human cell lines that, contrary to expectations, perform TCR. The XPC and CSB genes were mutated in cell lines derived from Xeroderma Pigmentosum patients as well as from normal human fibroblasts and repair was analyzed at the whole genome level using the very sensitive XR-seq method. As predicted, XPC-/- cells exhibited only TCR and CSB-/- cells exhibited only global repair. However, the XPC-/-/CSB-/- double mutant cell lines, although having greatly reduced repair, exhibited TCR. Mutating the CSA gene to generate a triple mutant XPC-/-/CSB-/-/CSA-/- cell line eliminated all residual TCR activity. Together, these findings provide new insights into the mechanistic features of mammalian nucleotide excision repair.

Circadian rhythms and cancer

Circadian rhythms are autonomous oscillators developed by the molecular circadian clock, essential for coordinating internal time with the external environment in a 24-h daily cycle. In mammals, this circadian clock system plays a major role in all physiological processes and severely affects human health. The regulation of the circadian clock extends beyond the clock genes to involve several clock-controlled genes. Hence, the aberrant expression of these clock genes leads to the downregulation of important targets that control the cell cycle and the ability to undergo apoptosis. This may lead to genomic instability and promotes carcinogenesis. Alteration in the clock genes and their modulation is recognized as a new approach for the development of effective treatment against several diseases, including cancer. Until now, there has been a lack of understanding of circadian rhythms and cancer disease. For that, this chapter aims to represent the core components of circadian rhythms and their function in cancer pathogenesis and progression. In addition, the clinical impacts, current clock drugs, and potential therapeutic targets have been discussed.

Interactions of circadian clock genes with the hallmarks of cancer

The molecular machinery of the circadian clock regulates the expression of many genes and processes in the organism, allowing the adaptation of cellular activities to the daily light-dark cycles. Disruption of the circadian rhythm can lead to various pathologies, including cancer. Thus, disturbance of the normal circadian clock at both genetic and environmental levels has been described as an independent risk factor for cancer. In addition, researchers have proposed that circadian genes may have a tissue-dependent and/or context-dependent role in tumorigenesis and may function both as tumor suppressors and oncogenes. Finally, circadian clock core genes may trigger or at least be involved in different hallmarks of cancer. Hence, expanding the knowledge of the molecular basis of the circadian clock would be helpful to identify new prognostic markers of tumorigenesis and potential therapeutic targets.

Disulfiram enhances the antitumor activity of cisplatin by inhibiting the Fanconi anemia repair pathway

A series of chemotherapeutic drugs that induce DNA damage, such as cisplatin (DDP), are standard clinical treatments for ovarian cancer, testicular cancer, and other diseases that lack effective targeted drug therapy. Drug resistance is one of the main factors limiting their application. Sensitizers can overcome the drug resistance of tumor cells, thereby enhancing the antitumor activity of chemotherapeutic drugs. In this study, we aimed to identify marketable drugs that could be potential chemotherapy sensitizers and explore the underlying mechanisms. We found that the alcohol withdrawal drug disulfiram (DSF) could significantly enhance the antitumor activity of DDP. JC-1 staining, propidium iodide (PI) staining, and western blotting confirmed that the combination of DSF and DDP could enhance the apoptosis of tumor cells. Subsequent RNA sequencing combined with Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) pathway enrichment analysis and cell biology studies such as immunofluorescence suggested an underlying mechanism: DSF makes cells more vulnerable to DNA damage by inhibiting the Fanconi anemia (FA) repair pathway, exerting a sensitizing effect to DNA damaging agents including platinum chemotherapy drugs. Thus, our study illustrated the potential mechanism of action of DSF in enhancing the antitumor effect of DDP. This might provide an effective and safe solution for combating DDP resistance in clinical treatment.

"Time" for obesity-related cancer: The role of the circadian rhythm in cancer pathogenesis and treatment

The circadian rhythm is regulated by an intrinsic time-tracking system, composed both of a central and a peripheral clock, which influences the cycles of activities and sleep of an individual over 24 h. At the molecular level, the circadian rhythm begins when two basic helix-loop-helix/Per-ARNT-SIM (bHLH-PAS) proteins, BMAL-1 and CLOCK, interact with each other to produce BMAL-1/CLOCK heterodimers in the cytoplasm. The BMAL-1/CLOCK target genes encode for the repressor components of the clock, cryptochrome (Cry1 and Cry2) and the Period proteins (Per1, Per2 and Per3). It has been recently demonstrated that the disruption of circadian rhythm is associated with an increased risk of developing obesity and obesity-related diseases. In addition, it has been demonstrated that the disruption of the circadian rhythm plays a key role in tumorigenesis. Further, an association between the circadian rhythm disruptions and an increased incidence and progression of several types of cancer (e.g., breast, prostate, colorectal and thyroid cancer) has been found. As the perturbation of circadian rhythm has adverse metabolic consequences (e.g., obesity) and at the same time tumor promoter functions, this manuscript has the aim to report how the aberrant circadian rhythms affect the development and prognosis of different types of obesity-related cancers (breast, prostate, colon rectal and thyroid cancer) focusing on both human studies and on molecular aspects.

Chronomodulated Administration of Chemotherapy in Advanced Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

In this systematic review, the efficacy and safety of chronomodulated chemotherapy, defined as the delivery of chemotherapy timed according to the human circadian rhythm, were assessed and compared to continuous infusion chemotherapy for patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Electronic English-language studies published until October 2020 were searched. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing chronomodulated chemotherapy with non-chronomodulated (conventional) chemotherapy for the management of advanced colorectal cancer were included. The main outcomes were the objective response rate (ORR) and system-specific and overall toxicity related to chemotherapy. Electronic databases including Ovid Medline, Ovid Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Review were searched. In total, seven RCTs including 1,137 patients were analysed. Males represented 684 (60%) of the study population. The median age was 60.5 (range = 47.2-64) years. There was no significant difference between chronomodulated and conventional chemotherapy in ORR (risk ratio (RR) = 1.15; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.87-1.53). Similarly, there was no significant difference in gastrointestinal toxicity under the random effect model (RR = 1.02; 95% CI = 0.68-1.51). No significant difference was found regarding neurological and skin toxicities (RR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.32-1.270 and RR = 2.11, 95% CI = 0.33-13.32, respectively). However, patients who received chronomodulated chemotherapy had less haematological toxicity (RR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.27-0.48). In conclusion, there was no overall difference in ORR or haematologic toxicity between chronomodulated and non-chronomodulated chemotherapy used for patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Chronomodulated chemotherapy can be considered in patients at high risk of haematological toxicities.

Prospects of Testing Diurnal Profiles of Expressions of TSH-R and Circadian Clock Genes in Thyrocytes for Identification of Preoperative Biomarkers for Thyroid Carcinoma

Thyroid Nodules (TN) are frequent but mostly benign, and postoperative rate of benign TN attains the values from 70% to 90%. Therefore, there is an urgent need for identification of reliable preoperative diagnosis markers for patients with indeterminate thyroid cytology. In this study, an earlier unexplored design of research on preoperative biomarkers for thyroid malignancies was proposed. Evaluation of reported results of studies addressing the links of thyroid cancer to the circadian clockwork dysfunctions and abnormal activities of Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) and its receptor (TSH-R) suggested diagnostic significance of such links. However, there is still a gap in studies of interrelationships between diurnal profiles of expression of circadian clock genes and TSH-R in indeterminate thyroid tissue exposed to different concentrations of TSH. These interrelationships might be investigated in future in vitro experiments on benign and malignant thyrocytes cultivated under normal and challenged TSH levels. Their design requires simultaneous measurement of diurnal profiles of expression of both circadian clock genes and TSH-R. Experimental results might help to bridge previous studies of preoperative biomarkers for thyroid carcinoma exploring diagnostic value of diurnal profiles of serum TSH levels, expression of TSH-R, and expression of circadian clock genes.

Obesity, cancer risk, and time-restricted eating

Obesity and the associated metabolic syndrome is considered a pandemic whose prevalence is steadily increasing in many countries worldwide. It is a complex, dynamic, and multifactorial disorder that presages the development of several metabolic, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases, and increases the risk of cancer. In patients with newly diagnosed cancer, obesity worsens prognosis, increasing the risk of recurrence and decreasing survival. The multiple negative effects of obesity on cancer outcomes are substantial, and of great clinical importance. Strategies for weight control have potential utility for both prevention efforts and enhancing cancer outcomes. Presently, time-restricted eating (TRE) is a popular dietary intervention that involves limiting the consumption of calories to a specific window of time without any proscribed caloric restriction or alteration in dietary composition. As such, TRE is a sustainable long-term behavioral modification, when compared to other dietary interventions, and has shown many health benefits in animals and humans. The preliminary data regarding the effects of time-restricted feeding on cancer development and growth in animal models are promising but studies in humans are lacking. Interestingly, several short-term randomized clinical trials of TRE have shown favorable effects to reduce cancer risk factors; however, long-term trials of TRE have yet to investigate reductions in cancer incidence or outcomes in the general population. Few studies have been conducted in cancer populations, but a number are underway to examine the effect of TRE on cancer biology and recurrence. Given the simplicity, feasibility, and favorable metabolic improvements elicited by TRE in obese men and women, TRE may be useful in obese cancer patients and cancer survivors; however, the clinical implementation of TRE in the cancer setting will require greater in-depth investigation.

Tumor markers and depression scores are predictive of non-suicidal self-injury behaviors among adolescents with depressive disorder: A retrospective study

Background

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is an important risk factor for suicide in adolescents with depressive disorders; therefore, it is important to predict NSSI occurrence as early as possible. Disturbances in biological rhythms are characteristic manifestations of depressive disorders and can lead to immune dysfunction, leading to changes in tumor markers. This study aimed to produce an index that utilizes tumor markers to predict NSSI behaviors among adolescents with depressive disorders.

Methods

A total of 120 hospitalized adolescent patients with depressive disorders aged 14–24 years were included in this study. Participants were divided into NSSI and non-NSSI groups based on self-reports using the Ottawa Self-Injury Inventory. Demographics, tumor marker concentrations, other peripheral blood indices, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) scores, and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) scores were compared between the two groups. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to develop a joint index, and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was created to predict NSSI behaviors among adolescents with depressive disorders.

Results

Compared with the non-NSSI group, the NSSI group had significantly higher insight, retardation, insomnia, hopelessness, psychiatric anxiety, total HDRS and HAMA scores, and significantly higher levels of cancer antigen 125 (CA-125), cancer antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). In addition, a joint index was developed by combining CA-125, CA19-9, CEA, HDRS total score, HAMA total score and age using multiple logistic regression to predict NSSI behaviors. The area under the curve was 0.831, with a sensitivity and specificity of 0.734 and 0.891, respectively.

Conclusion

A combination of depression score, tumor marker levels, and age can identify NSSI behaviors among adolescents with depressive disorders.

Circadian Rhythm Dysregulation and Leukemia Development: The Role of Clock Genes as Promising Biomarkers

The circadian clock (CC) is a daily system that regulates the oscillations of physiological processes and can respond to the external environment in order to maintain internal homeostasis. For the functioning of the CC, the clock genes (CG) act in different metabolic pathways through the clock-controlled genes (CCG), providing cellular regulation. The CC’s interruption can result in the development of different diseases, such as neurodegenerative and metabolic disorders, as well as cancer. Leukemias correspond to a group of malignancies of the blood and bone marrow that occur when alterations in normal cellular regulatory processes cause the uncontrolled proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells. This review aimed to associate a deregulated CC with the manifestation of leukemia, looking for possible pathways involving CG and their possible role as leukemic biomarkers.

Circadian rhythm and disease: Relationship, new insights, and future perspectives

The circadian system is responsible for internal functions and regulation of the organism according to environmental cues (zeitgebers). Circadian rhythm dysregulation or chronodisruption has been associated with several diseases, from mental to autoimmune diseases, and with life quality change. Following this, some therapies have been developed to correct circadian misalignments, such as light therapy and chronobiotics. In this manuscript, we describe the circadian-related diseases so far investigated, and studies reporting relevant data on this topic, evidencing this relationship, are included. Despite the actual limitations in published work, there is clear evidence of the correlation between circadian rhythm dysregulation and disease origin/development, and, in this way, clock-related therapies emerge as great progress in the clinical field. Future improvements in such interventions can lead to the development of successful chronotherapy strategies, deeply contributing to enhanced therapeutic outcomes.

The Relevance of Circadian Clocks to Stem Cell Differentiation and Cancer Progression

The molecular mechanism of circadian clocks depends on transcription-translation feedback loops (TTFLs) that have known effects on key cellular processes. However, the distinct role of circadian TTFLs in mammalian stem cells and other less differentiated cells remains poorly understood. Neural stem cells (NSCs) of the brain generate neurons and glia postnatally but also may become cancer stem cells (CSCs), particularly in astrocytomas. Evidence indicates clock TTFL impairment is needed for tumor growth and progression; although, this issue has been examined primarily in more differentiated cancer cells rather than CSCs. Similarly, few studies have examined circadian rhythms in NSCs. After decades of research, it is now well recognized that tumors consist of CSCs and a range of other cancer cells along with noncancerous stromal cells. The circadian properties of these many contributors to tumor properties and treatment outcome are being widely explored. New molecular tools and ones in development will likely enable greater discrimination of important circadian and non-circadian cells within malignancies at multiple stages of cancer progression and following therapy. Here, we focus on adult NSCs and glioma CSCs to address how cells at different stages of differentiation may harbor unique states of the molecular circadian clock influencing differentiation and cell fate.

Circadian rhythms and cancers: the intrinsic links and therapeutic potentials

The circadian rhythm is an evolutionarily conserved time-keeping system that comprises a wide variety of processes including sleep-wake cycles, eating-fasting cycles, and activity-rest cycles, coordinating the behavior and physiology of all organs for whole-body homeostasis. Acute disruption of circadian rhythm may lead to transient discomfort, whereas long-term irregular circadian rhythm will result in the dysfunction of the organism, therefore increasing the risks of numerous diseases especially cancers. Indeed, both epidemiological and experimental evidence has demonstrated the intrinsic link between dysregulated circadian rhythm and cancer. Accordingly, a rapidly increasing understanding of the molecular mechanisms of circadian rhythms is opening new options for cancer therapy, possibly by modulating the circadian clock. In this review, we first describe the general regulators of circadian rhythms and their functions on cancer. In addition, we provide insights into the mechanisms underlying how several types of disruption of the circadian rhythm (including sleep-wake, eating-fasting, and activity-rest) can drive cancer progression, which may expand our understanding of cancer development from the clock perspective. Moreover, we also summarize the potential applications of modulating circadian rhythms for cancer treatment, which may provide an optional therapeutic strategy for cancer patients.

Circadian Gene cry Controls Tumorigenesis through Modulation of Myc Accumulation in Glioblastoma Cells

Glioblastoma (GB) is the most frequent malignant brain tumor among adults and currently there is no effective treatment. This aggressive tumor grows fast and spreads through the brain causing death in 15 months. GB cells display a high mutation rate and generate a heterogeneous population of tumoral cells that are genetically distinct. Thus, the contribution of genes and signaling pathways relevant for GB progression is of great relevance. We used a Drosophila model of GB that reproduces the features of human GB and describe the upregulation of the circadian gene cry in GB patients and in a Drosophila GB model. We studied the contribution of cry to the expansion of GB cells and the neurodegeneration and premature death caused by GB, and we determined that cry is required for GB progression. Moreover, we determined that the PI3K pathway regulates cry expression in GB cells, and in turn, cry is necessary and sufficient to promote Myc accumulation in GB. These results contribute to understanding the mechanisms underlying GB malignancy and lethality, and describe a novel role of Cry in GB cells.

Cancer Stem Cells and Their Vesicles, Together with Other Stem and Non-Stem Cells, Govern Critical Cancer Processes: Perspectives for Medical Development

Stem cells, identified several decades ago, started to attract interest at the end of the nineties when families of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), concentrated in the stroma of most organs, were found to participate in the therapy of many diseases. In cancer, however, stem cells of high importance are specific to another family, the cancer stem cells (CSCs). This comprehensive review is focused on the role and the mechanisms of CSCs and of their specific extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are composed of both exosomes and ectosomes. Compared to non-stem (normal) cancer cells, CSCs exist in small populations that are preferentially distributed to the niches, such as minor specific tissue sites corresponding to the stroma of non-cancer tissues. At niches and marginal sites of other cancer masses, the tissue exhibits peculiar properties that are typical of the tumor microenvironment (TME) of cancers. The extracellular matrix (ECM) includes components different from non-cancer tissues. CSCs and their EVs, in addition to effects analogous to those of MSCs/EVs, participate in processes of key importance, specific to cancer: generation of distinct cell subtypes, proliferation, differentiation, progression, formation of metastases, immune and therapy resistance, cancer relapse. Many of these, and other, effects require CSC cooperation with surrounding cells, especially MSCs. Filtered non-cancer cells, especially macrophages and fibroblasts, contribute to collaborative cancer transition/integration processes. Therapy developments are mentioned as ongoing preclinical initiatives. The preliminary state of clinical medicine is presented in terms of both industrial development and future treatments. The latter will be administered to specific patients together with known drugs, with the aim of eradicating their tumor growth and metastases.

Glycolysis under Circadian Control

Glycolysis is considered a main metabolic pathway in highly proliferative cells, including endothelial, epithelial, immune, and cancer cells. Although oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) is more efficient in ATP production per mole of glucose, proliferative cells rely predominantly on aerobic glycolysis, which generates ATP faster compared to OXPHOS and provides anabolic substrates to support cell proliferation and migration. Cellular metabolism, including glucose metabolism, is under strong circadian control. Circadian clocks control a wide array of metabolic processes, including glycolysis, which exhibits a distinct circadian pattern. In this review, we discuss circadian regulations during metabolic reprogramming and key steps of glycolysis in activated, highly proliferative cells. We suggest that the inhibition of metabolic reprogramming in the circadian manner can provide some advantages in the inhibition of oxidative glycolysis and a chronopharmacological approach is a promising way to treat diseases associated with up-regulated glycolysis.

Recent Advances in Chronotherapy Targeting Respiratory Diseases

Respiratory diseases contribute to a significant percentage of mortality and morbidity worldwide. The circadian rhythm is a natural biological process where our bodily functions align with the 24 h oscillation (sleep-wake cycle) process and are controlled by the circadian clock protein/gene. Disruption of the circadian rhythm could alter normal lung function. Chronotherapy is a type of therapy provided at specific time intervals based on an individual's circadian rhythm. This would allow the drug to show optimum action, and thereby modulate its pharmacokinetics to lessen unwanted or unintended effects. In this review, we deliberated on the recent advances employed in chrono-targeted therapeutics for chronic respiratory diseases.

Circadian Synchrony: Sleep, Nutrition, and Physical Activity

The circadian clock in mammals regulates the sleep/wake cycle and many associated behavioral and physiological processes. The cellular clock mechanism involves a transcriptional negative feedback loop that gives rise to circadian rhythms in gene expression with an approximately 24-h periodicity. To maintain system robustness, clocks throughout the body must be synchronized and their functions coordinated. In mammals, the master clock is located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus. The SCN is entrained to the light/dark cycle through photic signal transduction and subsequent induction of core clock gene expression. The SCN in turn relays the time-of-day information to clocks in peripheral tissues. While the SCN is highly responsive to photic cues, peripheral clocks are more sensitive to non-photic resetting cues such as nutrients, body temperature, and neuroendocrine hormones. For example, feeding/fasting and physical activity can entrain peripheral clocks through signaling pathways and subsequent regulation of core clock genes and proteins. As such, timing of food intake and physical activity matters. In an ideal world, the sleep/wake and feeding/fasting cycles are synchronized to the light/dark cycle. However, asynchronous environmental cues, such as those experienced by shift workers and frequent travelers, often lead to misalignment between the master and peripheral clocks. Emerging evidence suggests that the resulting circadian disruption is associated with various diseases and chronic conditions that cause further circadian desynchrony and accelerate disease progression. In this review, we discuss how sleep, nutrition, and physical activity synchronize circadian clocks and how chronomedicine may offer novel strategies for disease intervention.

Circadian Synchrony: Sleep, Nutrition, and Physical Activity

The circadian clock in mammals regulates the sleep/wake cycle and many associated behavioral and physiological processes. The cellular clock mechanism involves a transcriptional negative feedback loop that gives rise to circadian rhythms in gene expression with an approximately 24-h periodicity. To maintain system robustness, clocks throughout the body must be synchronized and their functions coordinated. In mammals, the master clock is located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus. The SCN is entrained to the light/dark cycle through photic signal transduction and subsequent induction of core clock gene expression. The SCN in turn relays the time-of-day information to clocks in peripheral tissues. While the SCN is highly responsive to photic cues, peripheral clocks are more sensitive to non-photic resetting cues such as nutrients, body temperature, and neuroendocrine hormones. For example, feeding/fasting and physical activity can entrain peripheral clocks through signaling pathways and subsequent regulation of core clock genes and proteins. As such, timing of food intake and physical activity matters. In an ideal world, the sleep/wake and feeding/fasting cycles are synchronized to the light/dark cycle. However, asynchronous environmental cues, such as those experienced by shift workers and frequent travelers, often lead to misalignment between the master and peripheral clocks. Emerging evidence suggests that the resulting circadian disruption is associated with various diseases and chronic conditions that cause further circadian desynchrony and accelerate disease progression. In this review, we discuss how sleep, nutrition, and physical activity synchronize circadian clocks and how chronomedicine may offer novel strategies for disease intervention.