Article Document Academic Article Information Content Entity Continuant Continuant Journal Article Entity Entity Generically Dependent Continuant 2025-05-11T17:31:59 RDF description of Shift work and cancer - considerations on rationale, mechanisms, and epidemiology - http://repository.healthpartners.com/individual/document-rn19377 Occupational Health Workplace Prostatic Cancer Risk Assessment Risk Factors 14584 public Circadian Rhythm 36 document-rn19377 Shift work and cancer - considerations on rationale, mechanisms, and epidemiology 2 <p>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.<p> 10.5271/sjweh.2899 2022-02-21T22:48:57.408-06:00 23748 Breast Cancer Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health