Some physicians and scientists suggest that administering chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or radiotherapy at a specific time of day can improve response to treatment.

How do experts use chronomodulated therapy?

“It’s important to note that it’s not simply the timing that’s important, but also the style of the infusion that makes a difference. In the case of chronomodulated chemotherapy, the infusion is based on what is referred to as a sinusoidal wave, and requires special programmable infusion pumps. The pump initially infuses the drug in very small increments. Then slowly and methodically, the amount of drug is administered at an increasing rate until a peak concentration is reached. The infusion is then slowly reduced, until the remaining drug has been fully administered… We believe the interventions of chronomodulated chemotherapeutic administration, combined with integrative care and intravenous nutrition, provide significant value to patients.” – Keith Block, MD, Life Over Cancer 

Keep reading about timing of therapy

Author

Sophie Kakarala

Research Assistant
View profile

Sophie received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Cambridge, where she studied Middle Eastern languages and the philosophy of science. She then completed a premedical post-baccalaureate at the City University of New York. Before joining CancerChoices, she worked for several years at the Cornell Center for Research on End-of-Life Care, where she helped to conduct research on terminal illness and grief. Working in end-of-life research filled her with the conviction that all patients deserve free, accessible, and scientifically accurate information about the therapies available to them. While taking classes in anthropology, she also became curious about traditional medical knowledge and philosophies. These interests led her to CancerChoices. She is delighted to be part of CancerChoices’s work creating rigorous, evidence-based treatment guides for patients and physicians.

Sophie Kakarala Research Assistant

Nancy Hepp, MS

past Lead Researcher
View profile

Ms. Hepp is a researcher and communicator who has been writing and editing educational content on varied health topics for more than 20 years. She serves as lead researcher and writer for CancerChoices and also served as the first program manager. Her graduate work in research and cognitive psychology, her master’s degree in instructional design, and her certificate in web design have all guided her in writing and presenting information for a wide variety of audiences and uses. Nancy’s service as faculty development coordinator in the Department of Family Medicine at Wright State University also provided experience in medical research, plus insights into medical education and medical care from the professional’s perspective.

Nancy Hepp, MS past Lead Researcher

Reviewer

Dawn Lemanne, MD, MPH

CancerChoices advisor
View profile

Founder of Oregon Integrative Oncology, Dr. Lemanne is a Stanford-trained and board-certified oncologist whose practice combines advanced conventional treatments with evidence-based complementary therapies. She seeks out the best conventional treatment, then employs personalized lifestyle interventions to enhance treatment efficacy and maximize survival after a cancer diagnosis. She is particularly involved in using genetic and metabolic parameters to personalize diet and exercise recommendations.

Dr. Lemanne attended UCSF School of Medicine and completed a three-year internal medicine residency at Henry Ford Hospital in inner-city Detroit. She completed a medical oncology fellowship at Stanford University. Dr. Lemanne holds advanced degrees in epidemiology from UC Berkeley and in science writing from Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Lemanne is also a graduate of the University of Arizona’s two-year integrative medicine fellowship. Following graduation she joined the faculty of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. There she served as the first medical oncologist in the integrative medicine service.

Dr. Lemanne continues her association with the University of Arizona, developing much of the current oncology curriculum for UA’s Integrative Medicine Fellowship, including the popular courses “Breast Cancer” and “Nutrition and Cancer.” She lectures widely on integrative oncology, and has authored textbook chapters, peer-reviewed scientific papers, and works for the lay press, including the book “n of 1,” with coauthor Glenn Sabin.

Dawn Lemanne, MD, MPH CancerChoices advisor

Last update: January 25, 2026

Last full literature review: March 2025

CancerChoices provides information about integrative in cancer care, a patient-centered approach combining the best of conventional care, self care and evidence-informed complementary care in an integrated plan cancer care. We review complementaryin cancer care, complementary care involves the use of therapies intended to enhance or add to standard conventional treatments; examples include supplements, mind-body approaches such as yoga or psychosocial therapy, and acupuncture therapies and self-care lifestyle actions and behaviors that may impact cancer outcomes; examples include eating health-promoting foods, limiting alcohol, increasing physical activity, and managing stress practices to help patients and professionals explore and integrate the best combination of conventionalthe cancer care offered by conventionally trained physicians and most hospitals; examples are chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy and complementary therapies and practices for each person.

Our staff have no financial conflicts of interest to declare. We receive no funds from any manufacturers or retailers gaining financial profit by promoting or discouraging therapies mentioned on this site.