Clock genes regulates tumor growth and tumor angiogenesis of human pancreato-biliary cancer.

胰胆管癌是恶性肿瘤之一。它的侵袭性被认为与快速细胞生长和抗凋亡（程序性细胞死亡）有关。生物钟基因不仅调节人体的昼夜节律（生物钟），而且还调节癌细胞的生长和抗凋亡特性。生物钟基因在肿瘤细胞对抗癌药物或抗肿瘤细胞因子的抗凋亡作用中起重要作用。

Pancreato-biliary cancer is one of the most aggressive malignancies of human. Its aggressiveness is thought to be associated with rapid cell growth and resistance to apoptosis (programmed cell death). Clock genes regulate not only circadian rhythm (biological clock) of human bodies, but also cell growth and anti-apoptotic property of the cancer cells. The clock genes play important roles in resistance to apoptosis of the cancer cells treated by anticancer agents or antitumor cytokines.