BARD1, a possible biomarker for breast and ovarian cancer.
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women. Ovarian cancer, although less frequent, is detected very late, and survival is correlated to early detection. Therefore, better methods for early detection would help to increase the number of survivors. The incidence of young women diagnosed with breast cancer is increasing. These women and women who are at risk because of a family history of breast cancer would benefit from more accurate and less invasive screening methods than those in place today. A blood test based on BARD1, a protein that interacts with the breast cancer gene product BRCA1, is a promising candidate for fulfilling these conditions. The science behind BARD1 and its role in breast and ovarian cancer is explained in this article.
Irminger-Finger
Irmgard
I
Molecular Gynecology and Obstetrics Laboratory, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospitals Geneva, HUG Bld de la Cluse 30CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland. irmgard.irminger@hcuge.ch
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; C102449:BARD1 protein, human; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases