Impact of Sleep and Sleep Disturbances on Obesity and Cancer

Sleep has recently been recognized as a critical determinant of energy balance regulating, restoration and repair of many of the physiologic and psychologic processes involved in modulating energy intake and utilization. In addition to having an impact on obesity, sleep abnormalities, both quantitative and qualitative, have now been shown to have significant effects on obesity associated comorbidities, including metabolic syndrome, premalignant lesions and cancer. Sleep problems and fatigue also constitute a significant challenge for the ever expanding group of cancer survivors. Moreover, circadian misalignment, such as that experienced by 'shift workers' has been shown to be associated with an increased incidence of several malignancies including, breast, colorectal and prostate cancer, consistent with the increasing recognition of the role of clock genes in the metabolic processes. Of increasing concern is the accelerating incidence of sleep disorders in childhood, their association with childhood obesity and associated abnormalities of circulating cytokines, adipokines and metabolic factors, many of which are implicated as etiologic mediators of the connection between obesity and cancer.

Extensive studies have now been initiated to investigate the mechanisms by which disturbances in sleep duration, sleep continuity and sleep related breathing affect circadian rhythm, central and peripheral tissue oxygenation and metabolism, quality and quantity of dietary intake and circulating inflammatory cytokines and regulatory hormones. This volume aims to present the latest research on sleep, sleep disturbance and its correlation to obesity and cancer.

Dr. Susan Redline is the Peter C. Farrell Professor of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Senior Physician in the Division of Sleep Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Physician in the Division of Pulmonary Medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Dr. Redline has won several scientific awards for her research in sleep, including the American Thoracic Society's 2012 Recognition Award for Scientific Accomplishments, which recognizes her outstanding scientific contributions in epidemiological research designed to understand the prevention and treatment of sleep disorders.

Dr. Nathan A. Berger is the Hanna-Payne Professor of Experimental Medicine and Director of the Center for Science, Health and Society. He is Professor of Medicine, Biochemistry and Oncology at Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine. Dr. Berger is a member of many professional societies including the American Society of Hematology, American Society of Biological Chemists, American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Association for Cancer Research, American Society of Clinical Investigation, and the American Association of Physicians. Dr. Berger serves on and chairs many national peer review panels and committees for the National Cancer Institute. He chaired the NCI Scientific Review Group Subcommittee D for Clinical Research Program Project Grant Applications and the NCI/National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine Special Emphasis Review Panel.