CirRFKB: A knowledgebase of circadian-related risk factors for cancer pathogenesis and personalized medicine

Abstract

[Abstract]: Circadian rhythms regulate numerous physiological and biochemical processes in humans, and their disruption is linked to elevated cancer risk and progression. Although substantial research has elucidated interactions between circadian mechanisms and cancer pathways, these findings remain fragmented and poorly integrated, impeding a holistic understanding. To address this gap, we developed the Circadian-Related Risk Factor Knowledgebase for Cancer (CirRFKB), a manually curated repository documenting validated associations between the circadian clock and cancer. CirRFKB curates data from 471 articles, encompassing 46 cancer types and 4052 records, categorizing risk factors into 1449 single factors and 340 combinations. Single factors were categorized into 681 genetic factors, 106 environmental factors, 244 physiological factors, and 418 behavioral factors. These factors were further classified as 254 protective factors, 323 risk factors, 291 no-influencing factors, and 921 unclear factors. The user-friendly interface enables researchers to explore, visualize, and retrieve data through comprehensive browsing and query tools. CirRFKB provides a foundational resource that structures circadian-cancer interactions, offering systematic evidence to advance clinical applications in deep phenotyping for precision oncology and the optimization of chronotherapy. CirRFKB is publicly accessible at: http://bioinf.org.cn:9876/.