Night-shift Work and Breast Cancer

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Questionnaire: All cases and controls will be contacted by telephone or e-mail and invited to participate in the study. Female workers who decide to join the study will be asked to go to their company's occupational health clinic where they will undergo administration of a questionnaire to investigate possible known and unknown risk factors for breast cancer

Blood samples for biomarker measurement: Women who give consent to undergo this phase of the study will be called back to the center and will be asked to provide a blood sample

Study summary

Scientific evidence established about the effects of night work on health both in the short term (insomnia, excessive sleepiness, difficulty concentrating or lack of energy) and in the long term (moderately high risk of developing cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, depression, cancer). In light of the scientific evidence, the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) has listed night work as a probable human carcinogen (Group 2). With respect to current knowledge, the present study could provide valuable help in understanding the mechanisms by which circadian rhythm alteration acts at the genetic level in terms of promoting oncogenesis. Furthermore, by studying its association with other risk factors, understand whether there is a pattern of women more susceptible to its oncopromoting action.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Estimate the relationship between exposure to night work and breast cancer incidence — through study completion, an average of 1 year
  The primary objective of the study is to estimate the relationship between exposure to night work and incidence of breast cancer in a cohort of female health care workers who have been in service at IRCCS AOUBO Policlinico di S. Orsola and Azienda Ospedaliero- Universitaria "G. Martino" in Messina.

Trial sites (2)

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