The
scientists identified that common inherited genetic variants increase the risk
of breast cancer by about a one fifth. A group of researcher’s team, who were
working around the world, found out 65 new variants; on their own, they
contributed around 4% of the two - folded heightened risk of women with a
strong family history of breast cancer developing the disease. The relative
familial risk was estimated around 34%, when 200 more variants were added. It
is estimated that 1% of women have a risk of breast cancer more than three
times greater than that of women in the general population, combining the
genetic factors with hormonal and lifestyle influences was likely to increase
the risk. Some women may benefit from more intensive screening, starting a
younger age, or using more sensitive screening techniques, allowing early
detection and prevention of the disease.
The genetic variants have some clear
patterns in them that help us understand why some women are predisposed to breast
cancer, and which genes and mechanisms are involved. Genetic studies related to
this case look for loci, loci are regions of DNA that increase the risk of
disease. It may contain rogue genes, or DNA sequence that do not contain
instructions for making proteins but control gene activity. OncoArray
scientists were able to make predictions about many target genes, a first step
towards designing some new treatments, but pinpointing specific genes is
difficult. Using data from genomic studies, combined with information on other
known risk factors, will allow better breast cancer risk assessment, therefore
helping to identify a small but significant amount of women at high risk of
breast cancer.
References:
Association,
P. (2017, October 23). Breast cancer study uncovers new genetic variants for
increased risk. Retrieved October 25, 2017, from https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/oct/23/breast-cancer-breakthrough-as-study-uncovers-new-genetic-variants-that-increase-risk
Griffin,
A. (2017, October 23). Scientists find some of the genetic variants responsible
for increasing women’s’ chance of breast cancer. Retrieved October 26, 2017. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/breast-cancer-genetics-vartiants-discovery-find-research-latest-cure-screening-a8015881.html
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