生物钟基因(circadian clock genes)是控制并维持生物节律正常运转的一组基因, 通过一系列的转录-翻译反馈环调控机制, 在恒定的光暗周期中呈现节律性表达, 从而维持人体正常生理生化稳态。口腔癌(oral cancer)是一种口腔黏膜恶性肿瘤,发病率逐年上升, 与不良生活习惯、环境因素等相关。研究表明,生物钟基因的表达异常可通过多种机制影响口腔癌的发生发展。本综述从细胞周期、细胞自噬、免疫微环境及表观遗传等方面总结生物钟基因在口腔癌发生发展中的作用机制,以期为口腔癌的精准防治提供理论依据和新思路。

Circadian clock genes,which are a group of genes that control and maintain the running of the circadian rhythms, exhibit rhythmic expression under constant light-dark cycles through a series of transcription-translation feedback loops, thereby maintaining normal physiological and biochemical homeostasis in the human body and participating in the onset and progression of diseases. Oral cancer is a malignant tumor originating from the oral mucosa, with an increasing incidence rate each year, closely associated with adverse lifestyle habits and environmental factors. Studies have shown that abnormal expression of circadian clock genes can affect the occurrence and development of oral cancer through various mechanisms. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms by which circadian clock genes affect the onset and progression of oral cancer, including their roles in the cell cycle, autophagy, immune microenvironment, and epigenetics, with the aim of providing a theoretical basis and new insights for the precise prevention and treatment of oral cancer.