Gene variants associated to breast cancer

Breast cancer risk is determined by several factors and our genetic constellation can play a big part on it.

There are numerous gene variants that have been associated with breast cancer, but research regarding the incidence of these variants is usually conducted among family members with a history of breast or ovarian cancer, and not within the general population.

Two recent studies have recently published in the journal New England Journal of Medicine the results of two studies that investigate a panel of 34 putative breast cancer associated genes in large and unbiased cohorts. The results are highly consistent and a common set of susceptibility genes is identified in both studies. For the remaining genes, no significant association is detected. These results constitute a major step forward towards a more reliable and accurate breast cancer risk assessment.

Read the full article