Circadian rhythm heterogeneity modulates drug response variations in neuroblastoma models

Circadian clocks regulate essential cellular functions and influence cancer development and treatment outcomes. Aligning therapy with circadian rhythms can improve efficacy and reduce toxicity, yet whether neuroblastoma, a heterogeneous pediatric tumor, maintains circadian function remains unclear. Here, we systematically profiled circadian dynamics across 12 neuroblastoma cell models using long-term bioluminescence assays and computational analysis. Our findings reveal heterogeneous circadian patterns ranging from robust to arrhythmic, which we linked to distinct neuroblastoma genetic features. By integrating drug sensitivity data, we identified candidate compounds whose effectiveness correlates with circadian expression profiles. Moreover, time-of-day treatment assays with the ALK inhibitor lorlatinib and frontline chemotherapeutics revealed distinct temporal drug responses that were more pronounced in circadian-competent than weakly rhythmic cell lines. Together, these findings establish circadian heterogeneity as a previously unrecognized dimension of neuroblastoma biology and highlight the therapeutic potential of chronotherapy approaches for improved treatment efficacy.