Linkage analysis with markers on 17q in 29 Swedish breast cancer families

Recently, a putative breast cancer gene was localized to the long arm of chromosome 17. A collaboration study was undertaken to confirm linkage, to further map the gene, and to determine to what extent breast cancer families are linked to this locus. The Swedish material consisted of 29 breast cancer families in which 68 affected members were studied. Linkage analysis of breast cancer susceptibility was performed with a number of markers on 17q. In this material a weakly positive LOD score in favor of linkage was observed in a subgroup of families with early onset, while no such linkage was observed in a subgroup of families with late onset.