Update on genetic predisposition to breast cancer
Munaza Ahmed1, Fiona Lalloo, D Gareth Evans
1Department of Genetic Medicine, St Mary's Hospital, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK. muna.ahmed@cmft.nhs.uk
Abstract:
It has been evident for some time that individuals from some families exhibit a genetic predisposition to breast cancer. Since the discovery of the first breast cancer susceptibility gene, BRCA1 in the 1990s, much work has been carried out to identify further breast cancer susceptibility genes. This has led to the identification of another high-penetrance gene, BRCA2, a number of moderate-penetrance genes and, more recently, common low-penetrance genes and loci. The clinical benefit of the identification of such susceptibility genes and loci is in allowing an estimate of the risk of developing breast cancer in carriers. Ultimately, it is hoped that knowledge of an individual's genetic profile in relation to these genes may allow the use of targeted therapies to maximize efficacy in the treatment of breast cancer.
Related Concept Videos
Cancer Prevention
Some...
Cancer Prevention
Some...
Human Genetics
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell
