A new study has found that disrupted circadian rhythms, or biological clocks, may increase the risk of developing lung cancer. While smoking is a well-known risk factor for lung cancer, this discovery could lead to new approaches in prevention and treatment. In Germany alone, around 57,500 people are diagnosed with lung cancer each year, and avoiding tobacco is recommended to reduce the risk. However, researchers from the Scripps Research Institute and the University of Rochester have found that disrupted circadian rhythms may also play a role in the development of lung cancer.
The circadian rhythm refers to the sleep-wake cycle and is also known as the biological or internal clock. When this rhythm is disrupted, such as through shift work, it can have negative effects on health, including the development of cancer. In a recent study, researchers investigated how disrupted circadian rhythms affect the risk of lung cancer by conducting a study on genetically modified mice. The mice were kept under different lighting conditions to simulate the effects of disrupted circadian rhythms, and the results showed that the mice with disrupted lighting conditions had a higher number of lung tumors than those with normal lighting conditions.
Further analysis revealed that the regulation of the HSF-1 gene, a biomarker for cancer, was disrupted in the sick mice. This suggests a link between disrupted circadian rhythms and an increased risk of cancer. The study also suggests that regulating the HSF-1 gene with medication could reduce the risk of lung cancer, particularly for those who are exposed to disrupted circadian rhythms due to their occupation or lifestyle. These findings could lead to new preventive measures for those with disrupted sleep-wake cycles, and further research is needed to fully understand the link between circadian rhythms and lung cancer.
