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Review
. 2025 Jan 20;25(1):20.
doi: 10.1186/s12935-025-03649-6.

Genetic and epigenetic alterations in night shift nurses with breast cancer: a narrative review

Xia Li  1 , Yingyu Hu  2 , Fatemeh Aslanbeigi  3
Affiliations
Review

Genetic and epigenetic alterations in night shift nurses with breast cancer: a narrative review

Xia Li et al. Cancer Cell Int. .

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.

Keywords: Breast cancer; DNA methylation; Epigenetic; Genetic; Night shift; Nurse.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Illustrates the classification of breast cancer in (A) viewing the various tissue types that include nipples, ducts, lobules, lobe, and fatty tissue, (B) an overview of the mammary duct in cross-section, and (C) based on the expression of ER, HER2, and PR, along with the proliferation status
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
miRNAs regulating ERα transcriptional activity
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
BRCA1-associated lncRNAs and miRNAs are being studied for their roles as competing endogenous RNAs in the regulation of the cell cycle, cell signaling, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition processes related to breast cancer
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Breast cancer dysregulated miRNAs in apoptosis
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Main mechanisms for epigenetic modifications in breast cancer
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Mechanisms that are possibly complicated in breast cancer vulnerability
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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