Early morning cancer immunotherapy nearly doubles survival in non-small cell lung cancer patients. Scientists of Paris-Saclay University came to this conclusion. The study results were published in the journal Nature Medicine (NatMed).
The study included 210 patients who received a combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy. Participants were given checkpoint inhibitors pembrolizumab or scintilimab, drugs that release the immune system's brakes and allow T cells to attack the tumor. Half of the patients received immunotherapy before 15:00, the other half during the day. This regimen was maintained through the first four treatment cycles, which is believed to be the key to further survival.
Patients were followed for a median of 29 months. The difference in results was significant. early treatment resulted in an almost doubled survival benefit. According to the authors, the effect is comparable to or even superior to that of new anticancer drugs, which are generally considered breakthroughs.
Scientists attribute the results to circadian rhythms, the body's daily biological cycles. In the morning, T cells are more concentrated near the tumor, and during the day they enter the blood. Therefore, early application of immunotherapy increases the likelihood that activated immune cells will reach the tumor and destroy it more effectively.
The authors emphasize that changing the treatment schedule does not require new drugs or technology and may be a simple way to improve the effectiveness of therapy. They plan to find out in more detail whether there is an optimal "window" during the day, but even current data suggest that matching a patient's biological clock can significantly improve cancer treatment outcomes.
