Breast cancer genetics revealed: 72 new mutations discovered in global study
(CNN) The genetic causes of breast cancer just got clearer.
Researchers from 300 institutions around the world combined forces to discover 72 previously unknown gene mutations that lead to the development of breast cancer. Two studies describing their work published Monday in the journals Nature and Nature Genetics.
The teams found that 65 of the newly identified genetic variants are common among women with breast cancer.
The remaining seven mutations predispose women to developing a type of breast cancer known as estrogen-receptor-negative breast cancer, which doesn’t respond to hormonal therapies, such as the drug tamoxifen.
• The new discoveries add to previous research bringing the total number of known variants associated with breast cancer to nearly 180.
• The new variants may identify a small proportion of women at 3-times increased risk of breast cancer.
This article originally posted on CNN.com.
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