Risk for Breast Cancer

On March 31, 2011, an article in Medical News Today states that researchers at the University of Melbourne have found a gene for breast cancer risk. The research study is led by Professor Melissa Southey who, with her team, has found the gene through genetic sequencing technology called massively parallel sequencing. MPS sequences, at high speeds,  human DNA. The breast cancer gene is caused by mutations on the gene XRCC2. The mutations are rare but could explain why people who have breast cancer don't have anyone in the family who have breast cancer as Prof. Southey states. While only 30% of the people who have breast cancer have a familial risk, the other 70% are uncounted for. This gene could possible explain the other 70%. With the identification of the mutations on the XRCC2 gene, there is now help for those who have breast cancer without a familial link and relatives of those affected by these mutations. Relatives could find out their risk for the gene and those individuals who are most likely to have the gene as Professor Southey states. Also this could lead to breast cancer treatment that targets the specific mutations.

The research study began with two families one from Melbourne and one from the Netherlands who, through using MPS, were identified with the mutations on the XRCC2 gene. Later, DNA samples from 689 families whose families had relatives with breast cancer, 1308 women who had breast cancer from an early age, people recruited from the general public, and 1120 controls to further their testing on the mutations. Professor Southey states that with the ability to identify risk genes quicker, they will be able to find out more about other cancers such as colorectal and prostate cancers.

This article reminded me of what Professor Barbato discussed last week about breast cancer. Regardless if breast cancer is known to run in the family or not, we should still be tested for breast cancer to check if there is the possibility of having the XRCC2 mutations. The increase of developments in technology such as the massively parallel sequencing allows us to find the risk genes for diseases such as cancer and will subsequently lead to more information available for those who don’t believe are at a risk.