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The emerging link between cancer, metabolism, and circadian rhythms

Nature Medicine volume 24, pages 1795–1803 (2018)Cite this article

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Abstract

The circadian clock is a complex cellular mechanism that, through the control of diverse metabolic and gene expression pathways, governs a large array of cyclic physiological processes. Epidemiological and clinical data reveal a connection between the disruption of circadian rhythms and cancer that is supported by recent preclinical data. In addition, results from animal models and molecular studies underscore emerging links between cancer metabolism and the circadian clock. This has implications for therapeutic approaches, and we discuss the possible design of chronopharmacological strategies.

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Fig. 1: The mammalian circadian clock.
Fig. 2: The molecular components of the mammalian circadian clock.
Fig. 3: Circadian regulation of tumor initiation and progression.
Fig. 4: Tumor–host communication involving circadian metabolic tissues.

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Acknowledgements

The Masri laboratory is supported by a K22 Transition Career Development Award through the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the Concern Foundation, and the V Foundation for Cancer Research. Work in the Sassone-Corsi laboratory is supported by NIH (National Institutes of Health), INSERM (Institut National de la Sante et la Recherche Medicale, France), and KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Chemistry, Center for Epigenetics and Metabolism, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA

    Selma Masri

  2. Department of Biological Chemistry, Center for Epigenetics and Metabolism, INSERM U1233, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA

    Paolo Sassone-Corsi

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  1. Selma Masri
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Correspondence to Selma Masri or Paolo Sassone-Corsi.

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Masri, S., Sassone-Corsi, P. The emerging link between cancer, metabolism, and circadian rhythms. Nat Med 24, 1795–1803 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-018-0271-8

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