Home
>
What we do
>
Research
>
Our research projects
>
Understanding gene function
>
BRCA genes in breast cancer
My Breakthrough
BRCA genes in non-hereditary breast cancer
While BRCA genes account for only a minority of breast cancer cases, recent evidence suggests that the BRCA genes may also be altered in breast cancers without a family link. It is essential that we can identify if this is the case, as these tumours may require different treatment.
How are we investigating this?
In the majority of breast cancer patients with a family history of the disease, the make-up of the BRCA gene is changed. This stops the BRCA gene from working and so prevents DNA repair. Scientists have shown that the BRCA genes can also be altered in breast cancers for which there is little or no family history of the disease. In these types of breast cancer, the gene is stopped from working by a different mechanism. The make-up of the gene is not changed; instead, the BRCA gene is labelled with a chemical tag that stops the gene working.Breakthrough scientists are investigating whether this chemical tag is present in many different types of breast cancers. To do this, they are examining breast cancer tissue from our own Molecular Pathology Laboratory, in collaboration with the Royal Marsden Hospital Breast Unit and Guys' Breast Unit Tumour Bank.
Who is carrying out this research?
This work is being carried out by Dr Andrew Tutt and a team of scientists within the Gene Function laboratory, headed by Professor Alan Ashworth at the Breakthrough Research Centre.
Proposed Outcome
From these investigations, it might be possible to develop more tailored treatments for women without a family history
of breast cancer.
For more detailed information, please visit the Breakthrough Research website.
Also within "Research"
- Our new research units
- Our research projects
-
- Understanding the biology of the breast
- Identifying the causes of breast cancer
- Understanding gene function
-
- Other genes involved in breast cancer
- BRCA genes in breast cancer
-
- BRCA genes and hereditary breast cancer
- BRCA genes in non-hereditary breast cancer
- Understanding tumour formation
- Investigating how breast cancers spread
- Understanding treatments and their side effects
- Preventing breast cancer
- Our research centre
- Our research strategy
- The Breakthrough Generations Study
