title: Cancer susceptibility and the functions of BRCA1 and BRCA2.
abstract: Inherited mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 predispose to breast, ovarian, and other cancers. Their ubiquitously expressed protein products are implicated in processes fundamental to all cells, including DNA repair and recombination, checkpoint control of cell cycle, and transcription. Here, I examine what is known about the biological functions of the BRCA proteins and ask how their disruption can induce susceptibility to specific types of cancer.
authors.affiliation: University of Cambridge, CRC Department of Oncology, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2XZ, United Kingdom. arv22@cam.ac.uk
authors.forename: Ashok R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Venkitaraman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019313:BRCA1 Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D024682:BRCA2 Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D002873:Chromosome Fragility; D004249:DNA Damage; D004260:DNA Repair; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D019398:Genes, BRCA1; D024522:Genes, BRCA2; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D051135:Rad51 Recombinase
chemical_list: D019313:BRCA1 Protein; D024682:BRCA2 Protein; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C495153:RAD51 protein, human; D051135:Rad51 Recombinase