Disruption of the Molecular Circadian Clock and Cancer: An Epigenetic Link.

The circadian clock is regulated at the molecular level by feedback circuits of a group of genes known as "clock genes", which establish a mechanism that controls circadian cellular physiology to maintain the balance between cell proliferation, response to DNA damage and apoptosis. Alterations in the expression of clock genes due to genetic or epigenetic mechanisms have been associated with multiple diseases including cancer. Even some clock genes such as the Per1, Per2, Bmal1 genes have been proposed as tumor suppressor genes, with a relevant role during carcinogenesis.