The results were also observed when the patient’s prognosis was poor.
Cancer treatments have evolved considerably in France in recent years. Diagnosis is earlier and the appearance of targeted therapies and immunotherapy has made it possible to improve patient survival, including in advanced forms of cancer. These approaches, which use the immune system, better target cancer cells while reducing side effects. A new study highlights a new parameter for patients undergoing immunotherapy and chemotherapy: taking treatment at a particular time of the day would improve its effectiveness on survival.
The study, published in the journal Cancer, followed 397 people with small cell lung cancer, a particularly aggressive form. All received a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy at the start of treatment. “This study provides real-world evidence confirming the survival benefit of earlier administration of immunochemotherapy in these patients” indicate the authors. By comparing the results according to the infusion schedule, the researchers actually found that patients treated before 3 p.m. lived longer and saw their cancer progress later. This finding remained true even for those with a poorer prognosis at baseline.
It would therefore be in the morning, especially, that you should take your treatments. For scientists “These findings contribute to the growing body of knowledge about the clinical relevance of circadian rhythm in cancer treatment.” The circadian rhythm, or biological clock, regulates numerous mechanisms, including immune defenses. Immune system activity varies depending on the time of day and may be more favorable in the morning, helping the body respond better to treatment. This study echoes other work showing that the time of administration of certain drugs can influence their effectiveness or their side effects. Chronobiology, which studies these rhythms, is an increasingly present field of research in oncology.
The researchers emphasize, however, that this is a retrospective study, based on the analysis of medical records, which does not allow definitive conclusions to be drawn. Further clinical trials are needed to test whether treating in the morning actually improves survival. But the authors are optimistic and believe that adjusting the treatment schedule is a simple measure, which could be considered if the results are confirmed in future studies. For people currently in treatment, this study should not modify anything: schedules are organized according to the protocol, the availability of the teams and the state of health of each person.
The priority remains to receive regular and appropriate support. Above all, this work opens up an interesting avenue: taking better account of the biological rhythm could, ultimately, improve the effectiveness of certain treatments, even in cancers that are difficult to treat.
