University of Florida Apr 17 2026 Sleep deprivation has long been known to weaken the immune system. Now UF Health Cancer Institute researchers have made a startling discovery: The gut microbiota drives changes to the immune system caused by chronic sleep loss. These changes promote cancer progression, disrupt circadian rhythm and weaken the effectiveness of chemotherapy. "Sleep deprivation is very common among patients with cancer, but it's often overlooked in patient care, and molecular