Update on genetic predisposition to breast cancer

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...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inExpert review of anticancer therapy Vol. 9; no. 8; pp. 1103 - 1113
Main Authors Ahmed, Munaza, Lalloo, Fiona, Evans, D Gareth
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England Taylor & Francis 01.08.2009
Informa Healthcare
Subjects
Breast cancer
Breast Neoplasms - genetics
Drug Delivery Systems
Female
genes
Genes, BRCA1
Genes, BRCA2
Genetic Predisposition to Disease
Humans
penetrance
risk
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Summary: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.
ISSN:1473-7140
1744-8328
DOI:10.1586/era.09.38