Circadian clock and breast cancer: a molecular link.
The circadian clock controls a large array of behavioral and physiological systems of fundamental importance to most organisms. Consequently, abnormal functioning of the clock results in severe dysfunctions and pathologies. Although epidemiological studies show a clear correlation between disruption of circadian rhythms and incidence of breast cancer, a molecular interpretation of how clock-related mechanisms may link to tumor development remains elusive. Here we speculate on the molecular pathways that may couple the circadian machinery to breast cancer.
Sahar
Saurabh
S
Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, USA.
Sassone-Corsi
Paolo
P
D056930:ARNTL Transcription Factors; D000107:Acetylation; D000818:Animals; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D056926:CLOCK Proteins; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D019938:Cyclin D1 / Q000502:physiology; D019049:Developed Countries; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000502:physiology; D004967:Estrogens; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D051548:Histone Acetyltransferases / Q000502:physiology*; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008322:Mammals / Q000502:physiology; D008325:Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D008550:Melatonin / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational / Q000502:physiology; D012306:Risk; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology
D056930:ARNTL Transcription Factors; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D056926:CLOCK Proteins; D002843:Chromatin; D019938:Cyclin D1; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D004967:Estrogens; D051548:Histone Acetyltransferases; D006657:Histones; D008550:Melatonin; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; C538960:BMAL1 protein, human; C538961:Bmal1 protein, mouse; C538943:CLOCK protein, human; C538944:Clock protein, mouse