Researchers from California University discovered that the circadian clock is a problem, it is the biological clock which regulates the sleep wake cycle. It is actually believed to be associated with cancer growth.
As such a finding offers a different perspective for prevention and therapy procedures. This research published in Science Advances today sheds light on other shifted essential processes in the status of the gut microbiome and circadian disruption in colorectal cancer.
‘Early-onset colorectal cancer is increasingly being identified in adults younger than 50 years,’ said the paper’s corresponding author, Selma Masri, an associate professor of biological chemistry.
These cases of circadian misalignment might be caused by different reasons perhaps involving lat dinning, night shift work and exposure to light at night. Based on such findings, the present research posits that disruption of the clock, particularly through behaviour, is highly consequential for gut health and, therefore and inferentially, cancer.
Our team has also confirmed in colorectal cancer mouse models that circadian disruption changes the composition and density of gut microbiota and this was further exacerbated by cancer development. It also revealed a significant shift of the microbes and pathways in nucleic acid, amino acid and carbohydrate metabolisms.
These functional changes reduced stool mucus levels that formed a layer over the stomach lining inhibiting invasion by dangerous bacteria; hence, Dubowy et al need to stress how important the circadian clock is in maintaining barrier function . Because the intestinal walls are compromised and become more permeable, toxins and bacteria enter the bloodstream and spur cancer progression.
These, nevertheless, are noble findings and much more can be done in such fields, according to Masri.
More to the point, it raises the question of whether variations in the timing and quantity of some of these gut bacteria could literally ‘pop out of the blue’ and produce colorectal cancer at some point in time.
It will be necessary to do in detail investigation of how circadian rhythm misalignment will affect cancer development.
The impact of the findings in the development of new cancer and gut microbiota therapies that are based on the body’s internal clock is enormous; it implies ‘that a better understanding of this time keeping mechanism, not only could help fight cancer but also improve gut health on the whole’.
The study was led by Rachel Fellows, a postdoctoral fellow in the University’s department of biological chemistry. Other members of the team include; Marcus M. Seldin, Nicholas R. Pannunzio both from School of Medicine, Department of Biological Chemistry; Sung Kook Chun, postdoctoral fellow; Alisa L. Mahieu, Bridget Fortin and Wei A. Song, graduate students; and Natalie Larson, associate specialist.
Reference: Irvine C. Circadian disruption, gut microbiome changes linked to colorectal cancer progression Medical Xpress
