Role of the circadian rhythm in squamous cell carcinoma: From molecular mechanism to therapy (Review).

Authors

Mary-Lyn Eichhorn, Anna M Dmitrieva, Lydia Meder

Published in

Molecular medicine reports. Volume 34. Issue 5. Epub Sep 11, 2026.

Abstract

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) comprises a heterogeneous group of malignancies with distinct molecular characteristics, clinical behavior and therapeutic responses, highlighting the need for personalized treatment strategies. Circadian rhythms regulate fundamental physiological processes, including cell proliferation, metabolism, DNA repair and immune function, and emerging evidence suggests that circadian regulation may influence pathways relevant to SCC biology and treatment response. This review summarizes current knowledge on the role of circadian regulation in SCC, with particular emphasis on lung SCC, focusing on core clock genes, their interactions with oncogenic and immune‑related pathways, and their therapeutic implications. We discuss current evidence supporting chronotherapy as a potential component of personalized SCC treatment while addressing important limitations, including the predominance of preclinical studies, limited SCC‑specific clinical evidence and extrapolation from other tumor types. Finally, we outline key research priorities for translating circadian biology into clinical SCC management.

PMID:
42725394
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 11 Oct 2026.

Read full publication at:
Please sign in to see all details.

Stats

1-terrible, 9-excellent. How would you rate this publication? Sign in in to submit your rating.

Post a comment

You need to be signed in to post comments. You can sign in here.

Comments

There are no comments yet.