The Infections and Cancer research team at the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) and the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO) leads the first analysis with individual data that seeks a relationship between sleep and endometrial cancer. The study concludes that sleep deprivation or working at night do not seem to be risk factors for this type of cancer in postmenopausal women.
The work published in the journal Sleep Medicine Reviews analyzed data from 7,202 women with endometrial cancer and 22,027 healthy women from 11 studies of the Endometrial Cancer Epidemiology Consortium (E2C2). “We have not found any significant relationship between the development of endometrial cancer and sleep hours or working night shifts,” says Jon Frias, researcher at IDIBELL and ICO and first author of the article. In fact, following rotating or permanent night shifts does not seem to influence the appearance of endometrial cancer either.
The studies carried out to date on the relationship between cancer and hours of sleep show discordant results that vary depending on the design or method of analysis. Lack of light exposure due to night work or lack of sleep affects circadian rhythms and decreases levels of melatonin, a hormone strongly associated with anti-cancer effects. “That is why many studies have investigated the relationship between lack of sleep and cancer,” says Dr. Laura Costas, principal investigator at IDIBELL and ICO and leader of the project. “Our study shows that, at least, in the case of endometrial cancer, there seems to be no relationship.”
The Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) is a biomedical research center created in 2004. It is participated by the Bellvitge University Hospital and the Viladecans Hospital of the Catalan Institute of Health, the Catalan Institute of Oncology, the University of Barcelona and the City Council of L’Hospitalet de Llobregat.
IDIBELL is a member of the Campus of International Excellence of the University of Barcelona HUBc and is part of the CERCA institution of the Generalitat de Catalunya. In 2009 it became one of the first five Spanish research centers accredited as a health research institute by the Carlos III Health Institute. In addition, it is part of the “HR Excellence in Research” program of the European Union and is a member of EATRIS and REGIC. Since 2018, IDIBELL has been an Accredited Center of the AECC Scientific Foundation (FCAECC).