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Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Parallel Measurement of Circadian Clock Gene Expression and Hormone Secretion in Human Primary Cell Cultures
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The Circadian Modulators as Molecular Targets in Cancer-A Review

Anna Wolniakowska1, Joanna Roszak1, Zuzanna Sobańska1

  • 1Center for Alternative Methods for Toxicity Assessment, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Św. Teresy 8, 91-348 Łódź, Poland.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|December 30, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Circadian clock disruptions are linked to cancer. This review explores how targeting circadian clock modulators, like REV-ERBs and RORs, may offer new chemotherapy strategies for cancer treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Chronobiology
  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Growing research links circadian clock disruptions to cancer development.
  • Complex gene regulation and external factors contribute to pathological changes, including cancer.
  • Understanding circadian deregulation aids carcinogenicity research and risk assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and systematize knowledge on circadian modulators as chemotherapy agents.
  • To explore the role of REV-ERBs and RORs in cancer.
  • To identify future research directions for circadian-based cancer therapies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research.
  • Analysis of small-molecule modulators targeting circadian clock nuclear factors (REV-ERBs and RORs).
  • Examination of agonist and inverse agonist activities in cancer contexts.

Main Results:

  • Circadian clock genes are relatively well-characterized, but their regulation is complex.
  • Interplay of genes, expression products, and environmental factors can lead to cancer.
  • Circadian modulators show potential as targeted chemotherapy agents.

Conclusions:

  • Circadian modulators, particularly those affecting REV-ERBs and RORs, represent a promising avenue for novel cancer chemotherapy.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate their therapeutic potential and mechanisms in various cancer types.
  • Targeting the circadian clock offers new possibilities for neoplastic cell treatment.
Keywords:
cancercircadian clocksmall-molecule modulators

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