The head of the Pulmonology Section of the La Paz University Hospital, Francisco García Ríostated that obstructive sleep apnea increases the risk of cancer, its aggressiveness and associated mortality, due to the deterioration of the immune system caused by intermittent hypoxia during sleep.
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During the XXXIV Annual Meeting of the Spanish Sleep Society (SES), which brought together more than 300 experts, García Río explained that The repeated drops in blood oxygen typical of apnea affect both the innate and adaptive immune systems.reducing its ability to detect and eliminate tumor cells.
“All animals, humans among them, have an immunosurveillance system. If at any time a cell in our body acquires characteristics of a neoplastic cell and triggers the development of a tumor, “Our immune system is trained to detect it, phagocytize it and destroy it,” said the specialist.
Nocturnal respiratory disorders can weaken natural mechanisms. Photo:iStock
Impaired immunosurveillance in patients with apnea
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The expert indicated that in people with obstructive sleep apnea this system is impaired, which reduces its ability to identify and destroy tumor cells. As he explained, this phenomenon could explain the increased risk of cancer and its greater aggressiveness in these patients.
However, he clarified that the relationship between apnea and tumors associated with sex hormones, such as those of the prostate, breast or ovary, is not yet completely defined.
CPAP treatment and its possible impact on mortality
The main treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is CPAPa device that supplies pressurized air to keep the airways open during rest.
Although there are no conclusive clinical trials on its effect on cancerobservational studies have provided relevant evidence.
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This you should know. Photo:iStock
García Río cited a 2023 multicenter analysis in patients with metastatic melanoma that showed that severe apnea is associated with a higher five-year risk of death. However, those who followed treatment with CPAP showed a significant reduction in mortality.
“The results obtained suggest that CPAP treatment very significantly reduces the risk of mortality from melanoma”stated the specialist.
Investigations on combination with immunotherapy
The pulmonologist also indicated that researchers in Spain are studying whether the use of CPAP can enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy, one of the key treatments against cancer.
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“We want to see if the response to immunotherapy is greater and more effective with CPAP, since it would be a way to enhance the treatments that we are applying right now,” he concluded.
Listin Diario (Dominican Republic) / GDA.
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*This content was rewritten with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on information from Listin Diario (GDA), and was reviewed by the journalist and an editor.
