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Updated: May 14, 2026
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In Vitro Bioluminescence Assay to Characterize Circadian Rhythm in Mammary Epithelial Cells
Published on: September 28, 2017
Small-Molecule Modulation of the Circadian Clock in Cancer and Aging
Ashraf N Abdo1, Moustafa Gabr1
1Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Innovations Institute (MI3), Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA.
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
|May 13, 2026
Summary
Small molecules can modulate the body's internal clock, offering potential treatments for diseases like cancer and aging. This review explores these compounds, their targets, and their impact on health and longevity.
Area of Science:
- Chronobiology
- Molecular Pharmacology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Circadian rhythms, regulated by an internal molecular clock, govern ~24-hour cycles crucial for health.
- Disruptions in circadian timing are linked to diseases, including cancer progression and age-related functional decline.
- Small molecules offer potential therapeutic strategies by modulating core circadian clock proteins and pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive overview of circadian clock mechanisms.
- To highlight known small-molecule modulators of the circadian clock.
- To summarize their therapeutic potential in cancer and aging.
Main Methods:
- Review of scientific literature on circadian clock mechanisms and small-molecule modulators.
- Categorization of compounds based on molecular targets and discovery methods (high-throughput screening, rational design).
- Analysis of findings from cancer and aging models, including clinical and preclinical studies.
Main Results:
- Small molecules can target core clock proteins, influencing cancer metabolism, proliferation, and treatment response.
- Modulating circadian function may improve metabolic health and longevity in aging.
- Compounds have been identified through screening and rational design, targeting specific molecular pathways.
Conclusions:
- Small-molecule modulators represent a promising therapeutic avenue for circadian dysfunction.
- Further research is needed to overcome challenges like off-target effects and complex clock regulation.
- Development of novel chronotherapeutics holds potential for cancer and aging interventions.
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