Breast cancer genetic risk factors discovered

Breast cancer genetic risk factors discovered

Study finds that women who had five newly discovered genetic variants were 16% more likely to develop disease


Scientists came a step closer today to identifying women more likely to develop breast cancer after the discovery of five genetic variants that increase the risk of the disease.

The study conducted by the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) found that women who had the variants were 16% more likely to develop the cancer. Comparing the genetic codes of more than 16,500 women with breast cancer and a family history of the disease with about 12,000 women without either, it identified areas of DNA known to influence the risk of cancer.

The ICR research – which was funded by Cancer Research UK and the Wellcome Trust, and was published in the journal Nature Genetics – brings the total number of common, "low-risk" DNA areas associated with breast cancer to 18.

Dr Helen George, head of science information at Cancer Research UK, said: "This is by far the largest study of its kind to explore the common genetic variations that contribute to breast cancer risk. This research takes us a step closer to developing a powerful genetic test for the disease. Such a test could help doctors identify women who have an increased risk so that they can make informed decisions about how to take steps to reduce their chance of developing the disease."

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/may/09/breast-cancer-gene-variants-study

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