Study identifies genetic risk factors for breast cancer

FIVE common genetic variants were identified that increase a woman's risk of developing breast cancer by up to 16 per cent.

The discoveries take the total number of known common "low risk" genetic sites associated with breast cancer to 18.

As more mutations are found it increases the chances of combining them in a test for susceptibility to the disease. Such a genetic test could help doctors give advice to at-risk women.

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One of the newly identified DNA sites contains a gene called CDK2NA, which regulates cell division and is altered in many tumours. This gene was also linked to increasing the risk of melanoma skin cancer.

Most of the variants appear to be most associated with hormone-sensitive breast cancers which are stimulated by oestrogen.

To carry out the study, scientists scanned the genetic codes of more than 16,500 women with breast cancer and a family history of the disease, and about 12,000 women without breast cancer.

The findings were published today in the journal Nature Genetics.

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Professor Nazneen Rahman, from The Institute of Cancer Research in London, said: "Identifying the underlying genes and mechanisms behind breast cancer development is essential to increasing our understanding of the disease and ultimately finding new treatments."

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