Genetic and epigenetic alterations in night shift nurses with breast cancer: a narrative review
Abstract This narrative review explores the link between breast cancer and night shift work in nurses, focusing on genetic and epigenetic factors. Breast cancer disproportionately affects women globally, and night shift work is increasingly recognized as a potential risk factor. Nurses who work cons...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Cancer Cell International |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-025-03649-6 |
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| author | Xia Li Yingyu Hu Fatemeh Aslanbeigi |
| author_facet | Xia Li Yingyu Hu Fatemeh Aslanbeigi |
| author_sort | Xia Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This narrative review explores the link between breast cancer and night shift work in nurses, focusing on genetic and epigenetic factors. Breast cancer disproportionately affects women globally, and night shift work is increasingly recognized as a potential risk factor. Nurses who work consecutive overnight shifts face elevated risks due to disruptions in their circadian rhythms. Studies suggest that working six or more successive night shifts, particularly over five years or more, may increase breast cancer risk. This review hypothesizes that disruptions in the sleep-wake cycle, such as changes in melatonin production and telomere length, could contribute to breast cancer susceptibility. Currently, there is limited genetic evidence to support this hypothesis. However, it is plausible that genetic and epigenetic alterations, including changes in genes like ER and HER2, may heighten the risk for night shift nurses. These alterations may involve variations in telomere length, DNA methylation, and disruptions in critical breast cancer-related genes. We highlight various genetic and epigenetic changes that may influence this increased susceptibility. Further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms and contributing factors in this association. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8ef857bf72744ea8b1efedd44c82d35c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1475-2867 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cancer Cell International |
| spelling | doaj-art-8ef857bf72744ea8b1efedd44c82d35c2025-01-26T12:53:32ZengBMCCancer Cell International1475-28672025-01-0125111210.1186/s12935-025-03649-6Genetic and epigenetic alterations in night shift nurses with breast cancer: a narrative reviewXia Li0Yingyu Hu1Fatemeh Aslanbeigi2Shulan (Hangzhou) Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Shuren University Shulan International Medical CollegeShulan (Hangzhou) Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Shuren University Shulan International Medical CollegeSchool of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical SciencesAbstract This narrative review explores the link between breast cancer and night shift work in nurses, focusing on genetic and epigenetic factors. Breast cancer disproportionately affects women globally, and night shift work is increasingly recognized as a potential risk factor. Nurses who work consecutive overnight shifts face elevated risks due to disruptions in their circadian rhythms. Studies suggest that working six or more successive night shifts, particularly over five years or more, may increase breast cancer risk. This review hypothesizes that disruptions in the sleep-wake cycle, such as changes in melatonin production and telomere length, could contribute to breast cancer susceptibility. Currently, there is limited genetic evidence to support this hypothesis. However, it is plausible that genetic and epigenetic alterations, including changes in genes like ER and HER2, may heighten the risk for night shift nurses. These alterations may involve variations in telomere length, DNA methylation, and disruptions in critical breast cancer-related genes. We highlight various genetic and epigenetic changes that may influence this increased susceptibility. Further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms and contributing factors in this association.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-025-03649-6Breast cancerGeneticEpigeneticDNA methylationNurseNight shift |
| spellingShingle | Xia Li Yingyu Hu Fatemeh Aslanbeigi Genetic and epigenetic alterations in night shift nurses with breast cancer: a narrative review Cancer Cell International Breast cancer Genetic Epigenetic DNA methylation Nurse Night shift |
| title | Genetic and epigenetic alterations in night shift nurses with breast cancer: a narrative review |
| title_full | Genetic and epigenetic alterations in night shift nurses with breast cancer: a narrative review |
| title_fullStr | Genetic and epigenetic alterations in night shift nurses with breast cancer: a narrative review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genetic and epigenetic alterations in night shift nurses with breast cancer: a narrative review |
| title_short | Genetic and epigenetic alterations in night shift nurses with breast cancer: a narrative review |
| title_sort | genetic and epigenetic alterations in night shift nurses with breast cancer a narrative review |
| topic | Breast cancer Genetic Epigenetic DNA methylation Nurse Night shift |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-025-03649-6 |
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