PT Journal AU Costa, G Haus, E Stevens, R TI Shift work and cancer – considerations on rationale, mechanisms, and epidemiology SO Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health PD 3VL PY 2010 BP 163 EP 179 IS 2 DI 10.5271/sjweh.2899 WP https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=2899 DE breast cancer; cancer; circadian rhythm; circadian rhythm disruption; discussion paper; epidemiology; exposure; health; LAN; light; light at night; mechanism; melatonin; night; night work; occupational exposure; prostate cancer; risk assessment; shift work; sleep; sleep deprivation SN 0355-3140 AB

This paper summarizes the rationale for, possible mechanisms of, and problems related to risk assessment of the association between shift work and cancer. The mechanisms by which circadian disruption may favor the induction and/or promotion of malignant tumors are complex and multifactorial. The multilevel endocrine changes caused by circadian disruption with melatonin suppression through light at night (LAN) lead to the oncogenic targeting of the endocrine-responsive breast in women and possibly the prostate in men. Repeated phase shifting with internal desynchronization may lead to defects in the regulation of the circadian cell cycle, thus favoring uncontrolled growth. Sleep deprivation leads to the suppression of immune surveillance that may permit the establishment and/or growth of malignant clones. The epidemiological studies published so far, although dealing with large cohorts and controlling for several personal confounders, have defined the exposure to shift and/or night work rather loosely and consequently do not allow for the proper assessment of the risk connected with circadian disruption.

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