Breast cancer susceptibility gene

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among
women, and the second leading cause of mortality from cancer. Mutations in the so-called breast cancer susceptibility gene, BRCA1, account for 40-50% of early onset familial breast cancer cases. Recently, scientists have discovered that the protein ATR is responsible for activating BRCA1 in response to UV light-induced DNA damage. This discovery provides the first evidence that ATR may be the newest breast cancer susceptibility gene.

Contact:
Nora Poppito
poppito@cshl.org
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Message posted by: Wouter Kalle