Scientists have identified a gene, whose presence might enhance the vulnerability of women to be afflicted with breast cancer.
British researchers have made it known that women who portray mutations in the BRIP1 gene, carry twice the normal risk of being afflicted with breast cancer. Yet, BRIP1's presence contributes only to a minor risk, but mutations in other breast cancer genes, called BRCA1 and BRCA significantly heightens the risk.
Further, scientists are suggesting that mutations in BRCA1, 2, and another gene, TP53, can raise the risk of breast cancer in the person carrying the gene by almost 10 to 20 times, by the age of 60. Fortunately women portraying mutations in gene BRIP1 may not in all likelihood portray mutations in other breast cancer associated genes.
The American Cancer Society has indicated that less than 1 percent of American women have a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. According to the researchers the occurrence of this mutation in the population is rare, and new research has lent an insight into just how many of these types of genetic mutations can actually occur in the disease.
Researchers said in a statement "In breast cancer families without BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 gene mutations, there are likely to be several different genes, each with small (for example twofold) effects which will be acting together with each other and other non-genetic factors."