New Study Reveals Timing in Immunotherapy Improves Cancer Survival Rates

A new study published on December 8 in the journal Cancer indicates that the timing of immunotherapy treatments can significantly impact survival rates for patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, or ES-SCLC.

Researchers from the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine at Central South University in China analyzed data from nearly 400 patients receiving standard immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy between May 2019 and October 2023.

The study found that patients who received treatment before 3 p.m. lived significantly longer without their cancer progressing and had improved overall survival rates over the next five years compared to those treated later in the day.

Dr. Francis Levi, a medical oncologist and founder of the Chronotherapy Group at Warwick University, stated that this study extends previous research on the timing of immune checkpoint inhibitors in various cancers.

The researchers matched patients based on treatment timing while controlling for other factors like age and sex, resulting in a critical cutoff point at 3 p.m. Dr. Chi Van Dang from Johns Hopkins University noted that killer T cells, which attack cancer cells, tend to migrate into tumors in the morning, suggesting that aligning immunotherapy with this natural rhythm may enhance its effectiveness.

While the study's large sample size is a strength, it has limitations, such as a predominance of male patients and the need for further randomized clinical trials to confirm findings. The study raises questions about individual biological rhythms and suggests potential benefits from personalized 'chronotherapy', aligning treatment with each patient's internal clock.

Experts emphasize that optimizing treatment timing could lead to meaningful improvements in patient outcomes without the need for new drugs or complex interventions.