Familial susceptibility to breast cancer: a complex inheritance

The main results of segregation analysis aimed at identifying a major genetic factor involved in susceptibility to breast cancer are reviewed. They show that the existence of a single major gene is not sufficient to explain the distribution of the disease observed in the families concerned and suggest that the genetic inheritance involved is heterogeneous and complex. Heterogeneity has been explored in various studies according to epidemiological criteria. From these analyses, genetically homogeneous subgroups emerged (for instance families with breast cancer only or with affected males). The study of such homogeneous subgroups might help to better locate the susceptibility gene(s) on the chromosome map by analysis of genetic linkage using different markers. The results of segregation analysis depend on how epidemiological factors are taken into account. It is of major importance that epidemiological data on the proband (i.e., the individual prompting selection of a family) as well as on the members of his/her family are taken into consideration to improve understanding of the complexity of breast cancer transmission.