Maria Hernandez
Graduate Student, Biomedical Sciences Program-Cancer Biology Concentration
Sleep deprivation is common among cancer patients and a known disruptor of the immune response and gut microbiota balance. We hypothesize that sleep deprivation causes unbalance of the intestinal microbiota, and this promotes cancer formation and reduces chemotherapy effectiveness by creating an immunosuppressive tumor-microenvironment. To test this hypothesis, we used chronic sleep deprivation and fecal microbiota transplant mouse models to evaluate murine colon cancer tumor growth and response to a commonly used anticancer agent (5-Fluoriouracil (5-FU)). The results showed that chronically sleep deprived mice developed larger tumors and when treated with 5-FU had altered circadian gene expression, fewer cytotoxic and effector immune cells and markers compared to control mice. Furthermore, fecal microbiota transplant from sleep deprived mice to control mice led to impaired 5-FU antitumor response and decreased infiltration of anti-tumor immune cells. We conclude that chronic sleep deprivation promotes carcinogenesis, disrupts circadian rhythm regulation, and weakens chemotherapy efficacy through microbiota-driven immune dysregulation. These findings identify sleep deprivation as a modifiable factor influencing cancer outcomes.
Maria Hernandez is a PhD candidate in the Dept. of Medicine-Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. She is interested in understanding the underlying physiological mechanisms that take place when the microbiota is disrupted due to lifestyle factors like sleep deprivation. Her research focuses on elucidating this interplay in the context of colorectal cancer and how this knowledge can be leveraged to improve disease progression and treatment response.
Core Standards
SC.912.L.14.52
Explain the basic functions of the human immune system, including specific and nonspecific immune response, vaccines, and antibiotics.
SC.912.L.14.6
Explain the significance of genetic factors, environmental factors, and pathogenic agents to health from the perspectives of both individual and public health.
SS.912.P.2.6
Identify ethical guidelines scientists must address regarding research with non-human animals.
SS.912.P.2.8
Define forms of qualitative data and explain how they are used by scientists.
SS.912.P.2.12
Explain how validity and reliability of observations, and measurements relate to data analysis.
SS.912.P.5.3
Describe the circadian rhythm and its relation to sleep.
SS.912.P.5.3
Describe the circadian rhythm and its relation to sleep.
