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Article: Genetics of breast cancer
- Article from:
- Mayo Clinic Proceedings
- Article date:
- January 1, 1997
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Jan 1997. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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Familial breast cancer is characterized by young age at diagnosis, an increased risk of bilateral breast cancer, an increasing risk in conjunction with increasing numbers of affected family members, and a strong association with ovarian cancer. At least eight candidate breast cancer susceptibility genes have been identified. Mutations in BRCA1, BRCA2, p53, and the Cowden disease gene are relatively uncommon, are highly penetrant, and produce striking familial clusters of breast cancer. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are the most important of these, accounting for an estimated 80% of hereditary breast cancer and 5 to 6% of all breast cancers. Specific BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations are of particular importance ...