Clinical analysis of the efficacy of radiation therapy for primary high-grade gliomas guided by biological rhythms

Objective High-grade glioma (HGG) patients frequently encounter treatment resistance and relapse, despite numerous interventions seeking enhanced survival outcomes yielding limited success. Consequently, this study, rooted in our prior research, aimed to ascertain whether leveraging circadian rhythm phase attributes could optimize radiotherapy results. Methods In this retrospective analysis, we meticulously selected 121 HGG cases with synchronized rhythms through Cosinor analysis. Post-surgery, all subjects underwent standard radiotherapy alongside Temozolomide chemotherapy. Random allocation ensued, dividing patients into morning (N = 69) and afternoon (N = 52) radiotherapy cohorts, enabling a comparison of survival and toxicity disparities. Results The afternoon radiotherapy group exhibited improved overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) relative to the morning cohort. Notably, median OS extended to 25.6 months versus 18.5 months, with P = 0.014, with median PFS at 20.6 months versus 13.3 months, with P = 0.022, post-standardized radiotherapy. Additionally, lymphocyte expression levels in the afternoon radiation group 32.90(26.10, 39.10) significantly exceeded those in the morning group 31.30(26.50, 39.20), with P = 0.032. Conclusions This study underscores the markedly prolonged average survival within the afternoon radiotherapy group. Moreover, lymphocyte proportion demonstrated a notable elevation in the afternoon group. Timely and strategic adjustments of therapeutic interventions show the potential to improve therapeutic efficacy, while maintaining vigilant systemic immune surveillance. A comprehensive grasp of physiological rhythms governing both the human body and tumor microenvironment can refine treatment efficacy, concurrently curtailing immune-related damage—a crucial facet of precision medicine.