Sleep disorders and cancer risk

Sleep disturbance is emerging as a novel risk factor for cancer and a number of other chronic diseases. Disruption of circadian rhythm with resultant perturbed homeostasis is believed to drive sleep disturbance-associated tumorigenesis. Much of the supporting evidence comes from studies of shift work and, more recently, short duration of sleep with risks of various types of cancer and precancerous lesions. Less is known about the relationship of other sleep disorders, which encompass a number of conditions that broadly affect sleep health, with cancer. This chapter reviews current knowledge of the association between common sleep disorders and cancer and briefly discusses the molecular mechanisms underlying the link between sleep disturbance and cancer. Effective intervention on sleep health can potentially be a new avenue for reducing cancer risk and enhancing survival.