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The circadian clock as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer

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Abstract

Pancreatic cancer (PC) has a very high mortality rate globally. Despite ongoing efforts, its prognosis has not improved significantly over the last two decades. Thus, further approaches for optimizing treatment are required. Various biological processes oscillate in a circadian rhythm and are regulated by an endogenous clock. The machinery controlling the circadian cycle is tightly coupled with the cell cycle and can interact with tumor suppressor genes/oncogenes; and can therefore potentially influence cancer progression. Understanding the detailed interactions may lead to the discovery of prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers and new potential targets for treatment. Here, we explain how the circadian system relates to the cell cycle, cancer, and tumor suppressor genes/oncogenes. Furthermore, we propose that circadian clock genes may be potential biomarkers for some cancers and review the current advances in the treatment of PC by targeting the circadian clock. Despite efforts to diagnose pancreatic cancer early, it still remains a cancer with poor prognosis and high mortality rates. While studies have shown the role of molecular clock disruption in tumor initiation, development, and therapy resistance, the role of circadian genes in pancreatic cancer pathogenesis is not yet fully understood and further studies are required to better understand the potential of circadian genes as biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

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Acknowledgements

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Funding

This study was supported by a Grant from Mashhad University of Medical Sciences.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Ghazaleh Pourali, Amir Mahmoud Ahmadzade, Mahshid Arastonejad, and Roozbeh Pourali have contributed equally to this work and should be regarded as co-first authors.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Ghazaleh Pourali, Majid Khazaei, Hamid Fiuji, Seyed Mahdi Hassanian & Amir Avan

  2. Transplant Research Center, Clinical Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Amir Mahmoud Ahmadzade

  3. Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA

    Mahshid Arastonejad

  4. Student Research Committee, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

    Roozbeh Pourali

  5. Student Research Committee, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Hezar Jerib Street, Isfahan, Iran

    Danial Kazemi

  6. Student Research Committee, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

    Hamidreza Ghasemirad

  7. Basic Sciences Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Majid Khazaei, Mohammadreza Nassiri & Seyed Mahdi Hassanian

  8. Division of Medical Education, Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Falmer, Brighton, Sussex, BN1 9PH, UK

    Gordon A. Ferns

  9. Medical Genetics Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Amir Avan

  10. Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Amir Mahmoud Ahmadzade

  11. School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, QLD, 4059, Australia

    Amir Avan

  12. Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, 37 Kent Street, QLD, 4102, Australia

    Amir Avan

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  1. Ghazaleh Pourali
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Contributions

GP, AMA, MA, and RP performed the data collection. The draft was prepared by GP, DK, HG, HF, and MN. The study was designed and supervised by GP, SMH, GAF, MK, and AA. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Amir Avan.

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Pourali, G., Ahmadzade, A.M., Arastonejad, M. et al. The circadian clock as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer. Mol Cell Biochem (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-023-04790-4

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