Find gene that doubles the risk of cancer
posted in Cancer |
Women with a damaged gene called PALB2 have twice the risk of breast cancer, scientists found the Institute of Cancer Research.
They estimate that the gene affected annually creates approximately 100 cases of breast cancer in the UK.
Two damaged copies of the gene also appears to cause a serious blood disorder in children, as reported in the journal Nature Genetics.
Mutant DNA
PALB2 gene function is to repair mutant DNA, so that people who have a defective copy of the gene are more likely to accumulate other genetic damage, which leads to other problems, like cancer.
Professor Nazneen Rahman and her team studied the DNA of 923 women with breast cancer and family history of disease was not caused by BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, known to be the cause of breast cancer.
Ten of the patients had a damaged copy of PALB2 las1084 contrast to healthy women who were used to compare.
Having a defective copy of PALB2 increases more than double the risk of developing breast cancer.
Although the study was conducted only with women, scientists believe that the same genetic defect may also occur in men.
Double trouble
They also found that children who inherited two faulty copies of PALB2 developed a sub-type of a genetic condition called Fanconi anemia.
This aggressive sub-type of the disease was not caused by any of the 11 genes known to be responsible for Fanconi’s anemia and was cited as a high risk for certain cancers, including kidney and brain tumors.
Professor John Toy, Cancer Research UK, said: “The discovery of another gene that increases breast cancer, either for a small number of women is very important.”
“Gradually, we are beginning to learn more and more about the rogue genes that cause cancer in some families, and someday hope to use this knowledge to help those at high risk of contracting the disease.”
Most breast cancers happen by chance. Only 5% are related to an inherited gene.