A combined mathematical and experimental approach reveals the drivers of time-of-day drug sensitivity in human cells

Abstract The circadian clock plays a pivotal role in regulating various aspects of cancer, influencing tumor growth and treatment responses. There are significant changes in drug efficacy and adverse effects when drugs are administered at different times of the day, underscoring the importance of co...

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Main Authors: Nica Gutu, Hitoshi Ishikuma, Carolin Ector, Ulrich Keilholz, Hanspeter Herzel, Adrián E. Granada
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:Communications Biology
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-07931-1
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author Nica Gutu
Hitoshi Ishikuma
Carolin Ector
Ulrich Keilholz
Hanspeter Herzel
Adrián E. Granada
author_facet Nica Gutu
Hitoshi Ishikuma
Carolin Ector
Ulrich Keilholz
Hanspeter Herzel
Adrián E. Granada
author_sort Nica Gutu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The circadian clock plays a pivotal role in regulating various aspects of cancer, influencing tumor growth and treatment responses. There are significant changes in drug efficacy and adverse effects when drugs are administered at different times of the day, underscoring the importance of considering the time of day in treatments. Despite these well-established findings, chronotherapy approaches in drug treatment have yet to fully integrate into clinical practice, largely due to the stringent clinical requirements for proving efficacy and safety, alongside the need for deeper mechanistic insights. In this study, we employ a combined mathematical and experimental approach to systematically investigate the factors influencing time-of-day drug sensitivity in human cells. Here we show how circadian and drug properties independently shape time-of-day profiles, providing valuable insights into the temporal dynamics of treatment responses. Understanding how drug efficacy fluctuates throughout the day holds immense potential for the development of personalized treatment strategies aligned with an individual’s internal biological clock, revolutionizing cancer treatment by maximizing therapeutic benefits. Moreover, our framework offers a promising avenue for refining future drug screening efforts, paving the way for more effective and targeted therapies across diverse tissue types.
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issn 2399-3642
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spelling doaj-art-9da8207446984704b89ed23b65fcfb592025-08-20T03:40:47ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Biology2399-36422025-03-018111410.1038/s42003-025-07931-1A combined mathematical and experimental approach reveals the drivers of time-of-day drug sensitivity in human cellsNica Gutu0Hitoshi Ishikuma1Carolin Ector2Ulrich Keilholz3Hanspeter Herzel4Adrián E. Granada5Comprehensive Cancer Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin BerlinComprehensive Cancer Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin BerlinComprehensive Cancer Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin BerlinComprehensive Cancer Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin BerlinHumboldt Universität zu BerlinComprehensive Cancer Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin BerlinAbstract The circadian clock plays a pivotal role in regulating various aspects of cancer, influencing tumor growth and treatment responses. There are significant changes in drug efficacy and adverse effects when drugs are administered at different times of the day, underscoring the importance of considering the time of day in treatments. Despite these well-established findings, chronotherapy approaches in drug treatment have yet to fully integrate into clinical practice, largely due to the stringent clinical requirements for proving efficacy and safety, alongside the need for deeper mechanistic insights. In this study, we employ a combined mathematical and experimental approach to systematically investigate the factors influencing time-of-day drug sensitivity in human cells. Here we show how circadian and drug properties independently shape time-of-day profiles, providing valuable insights into the temporal dynamics of treatment responses. Understanding how drug efficacy fluctuates throughout the day holds immense potential for the development of personalized treatment strategies aligned with an individual’s internal biological clock, revolutionizing cancer treatment by maximizing therapeutic benefits. Moreover, our framework offers a promising avenue for refining future drug screening efforts, paving the way for more effective and targeted therapies across diverse tissue types.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-07931-1
spellingShingle Nica Gutu
Hitoshi Ishikuma
Carolin Ector
Ulrich Keilholz
Hanspeter Herzel
Adrián E. Granada
A combined mathematical and experimental approach reveals the drivers of time-of-day drug sensitivity in human cells
Communications Biology
title A combined mathematical and experimental approach reveals the drivers of time-of-day drug sensitivity in human cells
title_full A combined mathematical and experimental approach reveals the drivers of time-of-day drug sensitivity in human cells
title_fullStr A combined mathematical and experimental approach reveals the drivers of time-of-day drug sensitivity in human cells
title_full_unstemmed A combined mathematical and experimental approach reveals the drivers of time-of-day drug sensitivity in human cells
title_short A combined mathematical and experimental approach reveals the drivers of time-of-day drug sensitivity in human cells
title_sort combined mathematical and experimental approach reveals the drivers of time of day drug sensitivity in human cells
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-07931-1
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