The vicious interplay between disrupted sleep and malignant brain tumors: a narrative review

Professional paper - Review paper

• Author: Darko Orešković
• Author: Anđelo Kaštelančić
• Author: Marina Raguž
• Author: Domagoj Dlaka
• Author: Nina Predrijevac
• Author: Dinko Matec
• Author: Martina Matec
• Author: Damir Tomac
• Author: Vjekoslav Jeleč
• Author: Tonko Marinović
• Author: Darko Chudy
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine; (Croatian Institiute for Brain Research)
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine; (Department of Surgery)
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Clinical Medical Sciences; Surgery
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Basic Medical Sciences; Neuroscience

Abstract (english)

Malignant brain tumors are among the most aggressive human neoplasms. One of the most common and severe symptoms that patients with these malignancies experience is sleep disruption. Disrupted sleep is known to have significant systemic pro-tumor effects, both in patients with other types of cancer and those with malignant brain lesions. We therefore provide a review of the current knowledge on disrupted sleep in malignant diseases, with an emphasis on malignant brain tumors. More specifically, we review the known ways in which disrupted sleep enables further malignant progression. In the second part of the article, we also provide a theoretical framework of the reverse process. Namely, we argue that due to the several possible pathophysiological mechanisms, patients with malignant brain tumors are especially susceptible to their sleep being disrupted and compromised. Thus, we further argue that addressing the issue of disrupted sleep in patients with malignant brain tumors can, not just improve their quality of life, but also have at least some potential of actively suppressing the devastating disease, especially when other treatment modalities have been exhausted. Future research is therefore desperately needed.

• Keywords (english): Brain Neoplasms* / complications; Humans; Quality of Life*; Sleep
• Language: english
• Publication type: Professional paper - Review paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: Croatian Medical Journal
• Numbering: vol. 62, no. 4, pp. 376-386
• p-ISSN: 0353-9504
• e-ISSN: 1332-8166
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3325/cmj.2021.62.376
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:105:797901
• Publication: 2021-08-31
• Document URL: http://www.cmj.hr/2021/62/4/34472741.htm
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2021-09-21 08:12:04