image :Reuters Eric Gaillard
Scientists have identified 24 previously unknown genetic mutations that increase the risk of breast cancer. These "breakthrough results" provide answers to the thousands of victims who inherit the disease in their families.
The mutations have been found in known genes associated with breast cancer in only 20 percent of women who have undergone genetic tests for inherited breast cancer, but Australian scientists believe this new finding "solves a large part of the puzzle," which scientists have found no answer, On the cause of the spread of cancer in some families.
The University of Melbourne team claimed that their findings could allow doctors to better assess the risk of breast cancer.
Previous cancer studies indicate that the incidence of inherited genetic disorders is less than 3 percent, while four known genes can increase the risk of breast cancer, including the BRCA gene that Hollywood star Angelina Jolie carries.
But the new finding, led by Professor Melissa Sothi, suggests that the number of cancer-causing mutations is likely to reach 28, if further research confirms the findings.
The majority of women undergoing genetic testing have no signs of breast cancer. So these findings are not only useful for women with a family history of breast cancer, but will help "improve breast cancer prediction in all women and pave the way To develop genetic treatments for breast cancer. "
