BRCA1 news stories on Newser

Suit Challenges Patenting of Cancer Genes

Harry Kimball — Wed, 13 May 2009 14:39:02 CDT

A group of breast cancer and ovarian cancer patients has filed suit against the Patent Office for allowing a company to patent two human genes, the Courthouse News Service reports. The plaintiffs, who also include medical organizations and the ACLU, allege that Myriad Genetics' patents on the BRCA1 and BRCA2...

Family History of Breast Cancer Trumps Genes

Harry Kimball — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:40:01 CST

Women with family history of breast cancer are at elevated risk even if they don’t have a proven genetic indicator, HealthDay reports. Specific mutations in the BRCA gene correlate with an 80% lifetime risk of developing breast cancer; women in a new study who had a family history of the...

Breast Cancer Risk Seen for Latinos, Blacks

Dustin Lushing — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 18:40:30 CST

A genetic mutation that increases the risk of breast cancer has been linked to Hispanic and young black women, according to a new study. The findings could lead to changes in screening, the San Jose Mercury News reports. In the survey of 3,181 women with breast cancer, 16.7%...

New Key to Breast Cancer Discovered

Colleen Barry — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 04:57:00 CST

Scientists believe they've made a breakthrough discovery in why a certain genetic mutation can cause a particularly deadly form of breast cancer. Mutations in the BRCA1 gene are apparently linked to the loss of an important protein, PTEN, that checks cell growth, according to a new study in the journal...

Gene Doesn't Alter Cancer Survival Rates

Dustin Lushing — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 17:13:00 CDT

Women who carry one of the two known breast-cancer-causing genes—BRCA1 and BRCA2—are more likely to be diagnosed with the disease before 50, but they're not more likely to die from it than other breast-cancer patients, a new study concludes. Tracking the 10-year survival rates of women in 22...