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Ector C, Schmal C, Didier J, De Landtsheer S, Finger AM, Müller-Marquardt F, Schulte JH, Sauter T, Keilholz U, Herzel H, Kramer A, Granada AE. Time-of-day effects of cancer drugs revealed by high-throughput deep phenotyping. Nat Commun 2024; 15:7205. [PMID: 39169017 PMCID: PMC11339390 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51611-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The circadian clock, a fundamental biological regulator, governs essential cellular processes in health and disease. Circadian-based therapeutic strategies are increasingly gaining recognition as promising avenues. Aligning drug administration with the circadian rhythm can enhance treatment efficacy and minimize side effects. Yet, uncovering the optimal treatment timings remains challenging, limiting their widespread adoption. In this work, we introduce a high-throughput approach integrating live-imaging and data analysis techniques to deep-phenotype cancer cell models, evaluating their circadian rhythms, growth, and drug responses. We devise a streamlined process for profiling drug sensitivities across different times of the day, identifying optimal treatment windows and responsive cell types and drug combinations. Finally, we implement multiple computational tools to uncover cellular and genetic factors shaping time-of-day drug sensitivity. Our versatile approach is adaptable to various biological models, facilitating its broad application and relevance. Ultimately, this research leverages circadian rhythms to optimize anti-cancer drug treatments, promising improved outcomes and transformative treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolin Ector
- Charité Comprehensive Cancer Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christoph Schmal
- Institute for Theoretical Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jeff Didier
- Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Sébastien De Landtsheer
- Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Anna-Marie Finger
- Institute for Medical Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Francesca Müller-Marquardt
- Charité Comprehensive Cancer Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Research for Development, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Johannes H Schulte
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Clinic for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Thomas Sauter
- Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Ulrich Keilholz
- Charité Comprehensive Cancer Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Berlin, Germany
| | - Hanspeter Herzel
- Institute for Theoretical Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Achim Kramer
- Institute for Medical Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Adrián E Granada
- Charité Comprehensive Cancer Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Berlin, Germany.
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Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a critical interface separating the central nervous system from the peripheral circulation, ensuring brain homeostasis and function. Recent research has unveiled a profound connection between the BBB and circadian rhythms, the endogenous oscillations synchronizing biological processes with the 24-hour light-dark cycle. This review explores the significance of circadian rhythms in the context of BBB functions, with an emphasis on substrate passage through the BBB. Our discussion includes efflux transporters and the molecular timing mechanisms that regulate their activities. A significant focus of this review is the potential implications of chronotherapy, leveraging our knowledge of circadian rhythms for improving drug delivery to the brain. Understanding the temporal changes in BBB can lead to optimized timing of drug administration, to enhance therapeutic efficacy for neurological disorders while reducing side effects. By elucidating the interplay between circadian rhythms and drug transport across the BBB, this review offers insights into innovative therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mari Kim
- Cell Biology Department, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA (M.K., S.L.Z.)
| | - Richard F Keep
- Neurosurgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA (R.F.K.)
| | - Shirley L Zhang
- Cell Biology Department, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA (M.K., S.L.Z.)
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3
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Gonzalez-Aponte MF, Damato AR, Trebucq LL, Simon T, Cárdenas-García SP, Cho K, Patti GJ, Golombek DA, Chiesa JJ, Rubin JB, Herzog ED. Circadian regulation of MGMT expression and promoter methylation underlies daily rhythms in TMZ sensitivity in glioblastoma. J Neurooncol 2024; 166:419-430. [PMID: 38277015 PMCID: PMC11301575 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-023-04535-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary brain tumor in adults. Despite extensive research and clinical trials, median survival post-treatment remains at 15 months. Thus, all opportunities to optimize current treatments and improve patient outcomes should be considered. A recent retrospective clinical study found that taking TMZ in the morning compared to the evening was associated with a 6-month increase in median survival in patients with MGMT-methylated GBM. Here, we hypothesized that TMZ efficacy depends on time-of-day and O6-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase (MGMT) activity in murine and human models of GBM. METHODS AND RESULTS In vitro recordings using real-time bioluminescence reporters revealed that GBM cells have intrinsic circadian rhythms in the expression of the core circadian clock genes Bmal1 and Per2, as well as in the DNA repair enzyme, MGMT. Independent measures of MGMT transcript levels and promoter methylation also showed daily rhythms intrinsic to GBM cells. These cells were more susceptible to TMZ when delivered at the daily peak of Bmal1 transcription. We found that in vivo morning administration of TMZ also decreased tumor size and increased body weight compared to evening drug delivery in mice bearing GBM xenografts. Finally, inhibition of MGMT activity with O6-Benzylguanine abrogated the daily rhythm in sensitivity to TMZ in vitro by increasing sensitivity at both the peak and trough of Bmal1 expression. CONCLUSION We conclude that chemotherapy with TMZ can be dramatically enhanced by delivering at the daily maximum of tumor Bmal1 expression and minimum of MGMT activity and that scoring MGMT methylation status requires controlling for time of day of biopsy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anna R Damato
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Laura Lucía Trebucq
- Laboratorio de Cronobiología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Tatiana Simon
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | | | - Kevin Cho
- Departments of Chemistry and Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Metabolomics and Isotope Tracing, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Gary J Patti
- Departments of Chemistry and Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Metabolomics and Isotope Tracing, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Diego A Golombek
- Laboratorio de Cronobiología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Laboratorio Interdisciplinario del Tiempo (LITERA), Universidad de San Andrés, B1644BID, Victoria, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Juan José Chiesa
- Laboratorio de Cronobiología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Joshua B Rubin
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Erik D Herzog
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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Marcu LG. Circadian rhythm-based cancer therapy in randomised clinical trials. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2024; 24:29-39. [PMID: 38127132 DOI: 10.1080/14737140.2023.2298835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Since the 2017 Nobel Prize awarded to J. Hall, M. Rosbash and M.W. Young for their discoveries of molecular mechanisms behind the biological clock, circadian rhythm-based therapy, also known as chronotherapy, is receiving more attention in oncology and the number of anatomical sites of interest in this field is increasing. This observation is in line with the clinical evidence provided by trials on head and neck, lung, colorectal and cervical cancers, as well as the presently ongoing chronotherapy trials for breast and brain cancers. AREAS COVERED The aim of this review was to collate all randomized trials conducted on chronotherapy for various tumor sites and to appraise the evidence for chrono-oncology to advance personalized therapy. Relevant literature was collected from Pubmed/Medline databases and from clinicatrials.gov. EXPERT OPINION Current randomized clinical trials offer a certain level of evidence for the potential of chronotherapy to personalize oncologic treatment. However, comparison of trial results is hindered by the differences in timing of radiation/chemotherapy, the absence of harmonized recommendations for treatment outcome evaluation and not ultimately, the general lack of considering gender as a matched variable in trials, which was found to be a powerful factor influencing response to treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loredana G Marcu
- UniSA Allied Health & Human Performance, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
- Faculty of Informatics and Science, University of Oradea, Oradea, Romania
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Nettnin EA, Nguyen T, Arana S, Barros Guinle MI, Garcia CA, Gibson EM, Prolo LM. Review: therapeutic approaches for circadian modulation of the glioma microenvironment. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1295030. [PMID: 38173841 PMCID: PMC10762863 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1295030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
High-grade gliomas are malignant brain tumors that are characteristically hard to treat because of their nature; they grow quickly and invasively through the brain tissue and develop chemoradiation resistance in adults. There is also a distinct lack of targeted treatment options in the pediatric population for this tumor type to date. Several approaches to overcome therapeutic resistance have been explored, including targeted therapy to growth pathways (ie. EGFR and VEGF inhibitors), epigenetic modulators, and immunotherapies such as Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell and vaccine therapies. One new promising approach relies on the timing of chemotherapy administration based on intrinsic circadian rhythms. Recent work in glioblastoma has demonstrated temporal variations in chemosensitivity and, thus, improved survival based on treatment time of day. This may be due to intrinsic rhythms of the glioma cells, permeability of the blood brain barrier to chemotherapy agents, the tumor immune microenvironment, or another unknown mechanism. We review the literature to discuss chronotherapeutic approaches to high-grade glioma treatment, circadian regulation of the immune system and tumor microenvironment in gliomas. We further discuss how these two areas may be combined to temporally regulate and/or improve the effectiveness of immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ella A. Nettnin
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Thien Nguyen
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Palo Alto, CA, United States
| | - Sophia Arana
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | | | - Cesar A. Garcia
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Erin M. Gibson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Laura M. Prolo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Palo Alto, CA, United States
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Gonzalez-Aponte MF, Damato AR, Trebucq LL, Simon T, Cárdenas-García SP, Cho K, Patti GJ, Golombek DA, Chiesa JJ, Herzog ED. Circadian regulation of MGMT expression and promoter methylation underlies daily rhythms in TMZ sensitivity in glioblastoma. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.13.557630. [PMID: 37745358 PMCID: PMC10515960 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.13.557630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Background Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary brain tumor in adults. Despite extensive research and clinical trials, median survival post-treatment remains at 15 months. Thus, all opportunities to optimize current treatments and improve patient outcomes should be considered. A recent retrospective clinical study found that taking TMZ in the morning compared to the evening was associated with a 6-month increase in median survival in patients with MGMT-methylated GBM. Here, we hypothesized that TMZ efficacy depends on time-of-day and O6-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase (MGMT) activity in murine and human models of GBM. Methods and Results In vitro recordings using real-time bioluminescence reporters revealed that GBM cells have intrinsic circadian rhythms in the expression of the core circadian clock genes Bmal1 and Per2, as well as in the DNA repair enzyme, MGMT. Independent measures of MGMT transcript levels and promoter methylation also showed daily rhythms intrinsic to GBM cells. These cells were more susceptible to TMZ when delivered at the daily peak of Bmal1 transcription. We found that in vivo morning administration of TMZ also decreased tumor size and increased body weight compared to evening drug delivery in mice bearing GBM xenografts. Finally, inhibition of MGMT activity with O6-Benzylguanine abrogated the daily rhythm in sensitivity to TMZ in vitro by increasing sensitivity at both the peak and trough of Bmal1 expression. Conclusion We conclude that chemotherapy with TMZ can be dramatically enhanced by delivering at the daily maximum of tumor Bmal1 expression and minimum of MGMT activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria F. Gonzalez-Aponte
- Department of Biology, Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Anna R. Damato
- Department of Biology, Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Laura Lucía Trebucq
- Laboratorio de Cronobiología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes-CONICET, B1876BXD, Bernal, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Tatiana Simon
- Department of Biology, Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Sandra P. Cárdenas-García
- Department of Biology, Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Kevin Cho
- Departments of Chemistry and Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Metabolomics and Isotope Tracing, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Gary J. Patti
- Departments of Chemistry and Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Metabolomics and Isotope Tracing, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Diego A. Golombek
- Laboratorio de Cronobiología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes-CONICET, B1876BXD, Bernal, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Laboratorio Interdisciplinario del Tiempo (LITERA), Universidad de San Andrés, Victoria, B1644BID, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Juan José Chiesa
- Laboratorio de Cronobiología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes-CONICET, B1876BXD, Bernal, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Erik D. Herzog
- Department of Biology, Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
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Qu M. Molecular crosstalk between circadian clock and cancer and therapeutic implications. Front Nutr 2023; 10:1143001. [PMID: 36937362 PMCID: PMC10017454 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1143001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The circadian clock governs activity of many physiological processes, thereby playing a pivotal role in human health. Circadian disruption is closely associated with cancer development; in particular, recent discoveries have provided strong evidence supporting specific functions of different molecular clock components in either promoting or inhibiting tumorigenesis. This narrative review aims to summarize the existing data on molecular connections between the clock and cancer. These results along with future efforts pave the road to targeting the circadian clock as a novel pathway for therapeutic intervention. Given the implications of chrono-nutrition interventions such as time-restricted feeding in extending lifespan, chrono-nutrition may have preventive and therapeutic applications for individuals with and at-risk of age-related diseases including cancer.
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Roth P. Treatment of gliomas with temozolomide: Rather at sunrise or sunset? Neurooncol Pract 2022; 9:161-162. [PMID: 35601973 PMCID: PMC9113313 DOI: 10.1093/nop/npac024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Roth
- Department of Neurology and Brain Tumor Center, University Hospital and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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