The Nuclear Death Domain Protein p84N5; a Candidate Breast Cancer Susceptibility Gene
Abstract
Besides family history of cancer and an individual's age, no single etiologic factor can identify women at an increased risk for the disease. Approximately 10% of all cases of breast cancer exhibit a familial pattern of incidence. Efforts to identify the genetic basis of familial breast cancer reached fruition some years ago, when the breast cancer susceptibility genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2 were identified. However, recent studies have suggested that mutations in these genes are associated with a smaller number (20% to 60%) of hereditary breast cancer families than originally estimated, especially in studies that have been based on population-based family materials. Several research groups, including the author's, are searching for additional breast cancer susceptibility genes using whole genome scanning approaches, but the success of many of these approaches depends on the underlying heterogeneity of the remaining cancer susceptibility loci. The failure to identify additional breast cancer susceptibility genes associated with a high risk of disease suggests that more than one may exist. The author has taken the approach that the next BRCA genes will be those that encode for proteins whose functions are linked to important cell regulatory pathways. His group has recently found one such candidate BRCA3 protein, referred to as p84N5.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA438149
Entities
People
- Andrew Godwin
Organizations
- Fox Chase Cancer Center