Acquired Secondary Events in the Pathogenesis of Hereditary Breast Cancer
Abstract
The inheritance of a germ-line mutation of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, although associated with a markedly increased incidence of breast cancer, is not solely responsible for the development of breast cancer in predisposed women and multiple other acquired steps appear to be required for the development of breast tumors in predisposed women. It is possible that women with predisposing mutations are at increased risk of cancer because they acquire secondary genetic events at a faster rate than non-predisposed women and that the accumulation of genetic events leads to tumor formation. Increasing evidence suggests that BRCA1 plays a role in DNA repair which adds support to this premise. This study has involved elucidating the pathways by which women with predisposing mutations acquire secondary genetic events. In this study, we have identified a number of women with BRCA1 mutations in which we have obtained tumors suitable for study. We have studied characteristic histologies of their tumor types. We have developed new assays for quantitating the predisposition to the accumulation of acquired genetic changes.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA384214
Entities
People
- Gail E. Tomlinson
Organizations
- University of Texas at Dallas