title: Breast cancer genetics: what we know and what we need.
abstract: Breast cancer results from genetic and environmental factors leading to the accumulation of mutations in essential genes. Genetic predisposition may have a strong, almost singular effect, as with BRCA1 and BRCA2, or may represent the cumulative effects of multiple low-penetrance susceptibility alleles. Here we review high- and low-penetrance breast-cancer-susceptibility alleles and discuss ongoing efforts to identify additional susceptibility genes. Ultimately these discoveries will lead to individualized breast cancer risk assessment and a reduction in breast cancer incidence.
authors.affiliation: Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Nathanson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wooster
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Nathanson
mesh_terms: D024682:BRCA2 Protein; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D019398:Genes, BRCA1; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D018095:Germ-Line Mutation; D006801:Humans; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D024682:BRCA2 Protein; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors