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Breast cancer genetics: Unsolved questions and open perspectives in an expanding clinical practice
Author(s) -
Hodgson Shirley V.,
Morrison Patrick J.,
Irving Melita
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
american journal of medical genetics part c: seminars in medical genetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.419
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1552-4876
pISSN - 1552-4868
DOI - 10.1002/ajmg.c.30019
Subject(s) - breast cancer , cancer , etiology , penetrant (biochemical) , medicine , genetics , biology , bioinformatics , pathology , microbiology and biotechnology
Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in the United Kingdom, with a lifetime risk of one in nine in women. Only 5–10% of all cancers is thought to be due to strongly penetrant inherited predisposing genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 . However, other less penetrant genes, including some autosomal recessive genes, are likely to be of etiological importance in other families. This review addresses the current knowledge of breast cancer susceptibility genes and explores the possibilities for future developments. Features of tumor pathology, prognosis, and the scope for targeted treatments in mutation carriers are discussed, and the management of known carriers and those at increased risk for developing breast cancer are evaluated. Genetic testing for cancer susceptibility may become widely available in the future, and has important ethical and management implications. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.