thomasdevos
10-03-2009, 01:18 PM
Studies identify gene that causes breast cancer
Recent medical studies by a team of medical scientists have made great progress in finding the cause of breast cancer. In a thorough and comprehensive review of almost 5000 women, where about half of them already had breast cancer, the team found what appears to be a common genetic mutation that approximately 60% chance for an increased risk breast cancer. This particular mutation of the gene was observed in approximately one in six women involved in the study.
Medical researchers say that this new discovery of the gene variant is the most important genetic risk factor associated with breast cancer within 10 years. The gene is called fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) and is important because of its widespread prevalence.
During the study, medical researchers have been monitoring changes in the genetic code of the gene. Specifically, they looked at variations of single nucleotide polymorphisms, also known as SNPs) that are known to be associated in any way with breast cancer. The study found that women who had one defective copy of FGFR2 had a risk 20% higher breast cancer, and that women who had two defective copies or modified versions have provided a probability of 60% breast cancer. In addition, the study showed that one in six women who participated in the study were found to have two modified version of the gene variant.
It also confirms similar research which showed a very similar link between FGFR2 and breast cancer among women enrolled in the U.S. study of nurses by a health group quite different from medical researchers.
A statement by David Hunter of Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, which has contributed to these two studies indicates that these results open new avenues worthy of being studied to find the cause and cure for breast cancer avenues that were thought to be not contributing factors.
Reference Site:
breast cancer treatment (http://breast-cancer-treatment-cure.com)
www.breastcancer.org (http://www.breastcancer.org/)
en.wikipedia.org (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breast_cancer)
www.cancer.gov (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/breast)
breastcancer.about.com (http://breastcancer.about.com/)
Recent medical studies by a team of medical scientists have made great progress in finding the cause of breast cancer. In a thorough and comprehensive review of almost 5000 women, where about half of them already had breast cancer, the team found what appears to be a common genetic mutation that approximately 60% chance for an increased risk breast cancer. This particular mutation of the gene was observed in approximately one in six women involved in the study.
Medical researchers say that this new discovery of the gene variant is the most important genetic risk factor associated with breast cancer within 10 years. The gene is called fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) and is important because of its widespread prevalence.
During the study, medical researchers have been monitoring changes in the genetic code of the gene. Specifically, they looked at variations of single nucleotide polymorphisms, also known as SNPs) that are known to be associated in any way with breast cancer. The study found that women who had one defective copy of FGFR2 had a risk 20% higher breast cancer, and that women who had two defective copies or modified versions have provided a probability of 60% breast cancer. In addition, the study showed that one in six women who participated in the study were found to have two modified version of the gene variant.
It also confirms similar research which showed a very similar link between FGFR2 and breast cancer among women enrolled in the U.S. study of nurses by a health group quite different from medical researchers.
A statement by David Hunter of Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, which has contributed to these two studies indicates that these results open new avenues worthy of being studied to find the cause and cure for breast cancer avenues that were thought to be not contributing factors.
Reference Site:
breast cancer treatment (http://breast-cancer-treatment-cure.com)
www.breastcancer.org (http://www.breastcancer.org/)
en.wikipedia.org (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breast_cancer)
www.cancer.gov (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/breast)
breastcancer.about.com (http://breastcancer.about.com/)