Role of circadian clock in oral squamous cell carcinoma pathogenesis and treatment.

The circadian clock is an endogenous timing mechanism that enables cellular physiological activities to adapt to environmental changes. It is primarily composed of circadian clock genes and their encoded proteins, which form a transcription-translation negative feedback loop, generating circadian rhythmic oscillations that regulate cellular function. Circadian clock genes interact with multiple molecular pathways that regulate physiological processes such as the cell cycle and metabolism; therefore, the circadian clock plays a vital role in maintaining cellular homeostasis. Studies have shown that circadian clock disruption is closely linked to the development of various cancers, and further research may provide new strategies for cancer prevention and treatment. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a common head and neck malignancy with poor prognosis, and its mechanisms of onset are not yet fully understood. This review discusses the role and mechanisms of circadian clock disruption in the development and progression of OSCC and summarizes recent advances in chronotherapy and therapeutic strategies targeting circadian clock genes, aiming to provide novel insights for the prevention and treatment of OSCC.