title: Hereditary breast cancer: a review.
abstract: Breast cancer is the most common female malignancy and a major cause of death in middle-aged women. A positive family history of breast cancer is one of the strongest risk factors for the disease. In addition, many afflicted breast cancer families are characterized by early onset and bilateral tumors, and also, in some cases, associated malignancies, most commonly ovarian cancer. It is estimated that 5-10% of all breast cancer cases are due to autosomal dominant genes segregating with the disease. Mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are known to predispose to breast and ovarian cancer in many families. Other genes are only involved in very rare syndromes, and additional genes remain to be disclosed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, CMM L8:02, Karolinska Institutet, S-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Arver
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lindblom
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019313:BRCA1 Protein / Q000235:genetics; D024682:BRCA2 Protein; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D018567:Breast Neoplasms, Male / Q000235:genetics; D004260:DNA Repair; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D019398:Genes, BRCA1 / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D019313:BRCA1 Protein; D024682:BRCA2 Protein; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors