Genes modulating breast and ovarian cancer risk discovered

A new study has found the two new genes that influence the risk of women developing breast and ovarian cancer.

Scientists at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) are currently conducting a study that will contribute towards spreading awareness about the genes when they carry BCRA1 and BCRA2 mutations.

The researchers have said that these genes could explain why some women with high-risk mutations suffer from cancer while others do not.

Ana Osorio, lead author of the study and a researcher in the Human Genetics Group, at CNIO said that the aim is to create a test that includes all known genetic variants that affect the risk of developing cancer, and at what age, in order to be able to compile a personalised profile for each patient.

According to the study the DNA variants may be caused by a single change, SNPs (Single-nucleotide polymorphisms), which do not inactivate genes and nor are they pathological in and of themselves, but they can play an important role when high-risk mutations already exist.