title: Sleep apnea awakens cancer: A unifying immunological hypothesis.
abstract: The presence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in patients with cancer appears to be accompanied by poorer outcomes. However, the mechanisms underlying such association are unknown. We hypothesize that the constitutive characteristics of OSA, namely, intermittent hypoxia and sleep fragmentation, promote changes in the tumor microenvironment that ultimately lead to a disadvantageous immunosurveillance, thereby accelerating tumor proliferation and enhancing its invasiveness.
authors: Department of Pediatrics; Comer Children's Hospital; Pritzker School of Medicine; University of Chicago; Chicago, IL USA.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Gozal
authors: Department of Pediatrics; Comer Children's Hospital; Pritzker School of Medicine; University of Chicago; Chicago, IL USA.
authors: Isaac
authors: I
authors: Almendros
authors: Department of Pediatrics; Comer Children's Hospital; Pritzker School of Medicine; University of Chicago; Chicago, IL USA.
authors: Fahed
authors: F
authors: Hakim
keywords: angiogenesis; intermittent hypoxia; invasion; macrophage polarity; sleep apnea; sleep fragmentation