Genetics Screening for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 Breast Cancer Susceptibility Genes

In 1994, scientists isolated a gene, BRCA1 that has an unprecedented impact on the study of cancer genetics. BRCA1 is a breast cancer susceptibility gene, meaning that woman who possess different mutations in this genes also possess a greatly increased risk of acquiring familial breast cancer, mutations in these two genes alone appear to be responsible for approximately 70% of breast cancer cases in families with an inheritance pattern affecting several generations. Scientists have developed genetic screening techniques to detect possible cancer-causing mutations: 1. early age of one set of breast cancer (often before age 50). 2. Increased chance of bilateral caners or an individual with both breast and ovarian cancer. 3. autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. 4. Increased incidence of tumors of other specific organs, such as the prostitution. These classes are called proto-oncogenies and tumor suppressor genes. Proto-oncogenies code for proteins such as peptide growth factors and clear transcription factors that control cell division and DNA synthesis. They can be inactivated through loss of expression, deletion, or mutations. Such mutations have the ability to be passed from generation to generation, producing an inherited susceptibility to cancer. Both BRCA1 and BRCA2 are believed to be of this second type, tumor suppressor genes. The list of identified germline mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 is stilling growing, and mutation carriers have a substantial lifetime risk of both breast and ovarian cancer. However, it is still undetermined whether BRCA1 and BRCA2 play similar important roles in sporadic breast cancer. Genetics Screening should be done because it may show now or later on, but nobody knows that. A patient who thinks that they are carry BRCA1 mutation can start cancer screening at an earlier age. They can also choose options like risk-reducing medications and preventive surgery.