Research and exploration in tumor circadian therapy

Scientists have found tumor growth is highly dependent on time of day, and that the timing of the gene activity in tumor cells is at least partly off killer. Due to the circadian rhythm in cancer, tumor cells are more vulnerable to anticancer drugs at certain points in their circadian cycle. According to principles of circadian-rhythm cancer, clinical studies suggested that the chronotherapy against tumor growth appears more advantages in reduction of adverse reactions, increase of maximal tolerance and response to chemotherapy. The importance of tumor chronotherapy has gained prominence. This paper highlights characteristics of variety of circadian chemotherapeutics, and relationship of the circadian rhythms with therapeutic effects and toxicities of chemotherapeutics. The circadian rhythm of radiotherapy in the time-dependent manner is also discussed.