In article <pj.37.2E77FEC2 at anat.uct.ac.za>, pj at anat.uct.ac.za (Pierre
Janssens) wrote:
> Does anyone have more detail about the gene for a form of breast cancer
> that has apparently been found? (This info from a local newspaper)
Here's the Associated Press release:
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Three teams of U.S. researchers have won the
worldwide race to isolate the gene that causes the inherited form
of breast cancer, the journal Science reported Wednesday.
The gene, called BRCA1, is believed to cause 5 percent of breast
cancer cases. Isolation of the gene by researchers -- from the
National Institutes of Health, Myriad Genetics Corp. and a
University of Utah professor -- was first reported Tuesday by NBC
News.
Isolation of the gene will enable scientists to develop a test
to identify women who carry BRCA1, giving them an opportunity to
identify breast cancer or to make the more difficult decision of
having a mastectomy to forestall the disease.
Some researchers believe such a test could be developed within
two years.
Scientists have known for years that the BRCA1 gene exists, and
more than a dozen research facilities around the world have been
working to pinpoint it.
Science announced Wednesday that the work by Myriad Genetics,
the University of Utah's Mark Skolnick and Roger Wiseman of the
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences had passed peer
review and would be printed in its Oct. 7 issue.
But the journal released copies of the work Wednesday.
About 182,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in the
United States each year, and 46,000 die, according to the American
Cancer Society.
Experts have said women with the altered gene have about a 60
percent chance of developing breast cancer before age 50 and an 85
percent chance by age 65.
The researchers couldn't immediately be reached for comment. NIH
refused to discuss the findings.
Belinda Rossiter
rossiter at bcm.tmc.edu
