A recent study has revealed that administering anticancer immunotherapy earlier in the day may significantly enhance survival rates for individuals with cancer. Published in the journal Cancer, the research underscores the influence of the body’s internal clock, or circadian rhythm, on the effectiveness of cancer treatments.
The study involved 397 patients diagnosed with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, all of whom received immunotherapy drugs atezolizumab or durvalumab combined with chemotherapy. Conducted at the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine at Central South University in China, the research spanned from May 2019 to October 2023.
Patients who received their immunochemotherapy treatments before 15:00 experienced notably better outcomes. According to the findings, these individuals enjoyed significantly longer progression-free survival, which refers to the duration without cancer progression, as well as overall survival when compared to those treated later in the day.
After controlling for various influencing factors, the study indicated that receiving treatment earlier was associated with a 52% lower risk of cancer progression and a 63% lower risk of death.
Dr. Yongchang Zhang, the senior author of the study, emphasized the practical implications of these findings. “Adjusting infusion timing is a straightforward and easily implementable intervention that can be adopted across diverse health care settings without additional cost,” he stated. Dr. Zhang further noted that these results have immediate clinical applicability and could potentially transform existing treatment protocols for small cell lung cancer.
The research presents a promising avenue for improving cancer treatment efficacy. As healthcare providers consider the timing of drug administration, this study may influence future protocols aimed at optimizing patient outcomes.
For additional details, refer to the study titled “Overall survival according to time-of-day of immunochemotherapy for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer” published in Cancer (2025), DOI: 10.1002/cncr.70126.
