title: Circadian clocks and breast cancer.
abstract: Circadian clocks respond to environmental time cues to coordinate 24-hour oscillations in almost every tissue of the body. In the breast, circadian clocks regulate the rhythmic expression of numerous genes. Disrupted expression of circadian genes can alter breast biology and may promote cancer. Here we overview circadian mechanisms, and the connection between the molecular clock and breast biology. We describe how disruption of circadian genes contributes to cancer via multiple mechanisms, and link this to increased tumour risk in women who work irregular shift patterns. Understanding the influence of circadian rhythms on breast cancer could lead to more efficacious therapies, reformed public health policy and improved patient outcome.
authors: Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, and Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK.
authors: Victoria
authors: V
authors: Blakeman
authors: Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, and Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK.
authors: Jack L
authors: JL
authors: Williams
authors: Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, and Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK. qing-jun.meng@manchester.ac.uk.
authors: Qing-Jun
authors: QJ
authors: Meng
authors: Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, and Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK. cstreuli@manchester.ac.uk.
authors: Charles H
authors: CH
authors: Streuli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001940:Breast / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D057906:Circadian Clocks / Q000235:genetics; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D009928:Organ Specificity; D013493:Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology