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Main page General info BRCA1 and BRC2 Links BRCA1 and BRCA2BRCA1 BRCA1 gene is located on the 17th chromosome. This gene is very large and complex in nature. More than 500 different types of mutations are identified on this gene. BRCA1 mutations are inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern and can be passed to the offspring by either of the parents. BRCA1 mutations are associated with increased risk of breast, ovarian cancers. BRCA1 mutations are also associated with increased risk of prostate cancer in the male, but the association is not as strong as in breast cancer or ovarian cancer. A woman carrying BRCA1 mutation, has about 56 percent to 85 percent chance of developing breast cancer in her lifetime. The risk of ovarian cancer in carries of BRCA1 mutation is in the range of 15 percent to 45 percent. By comparison only about 1.8 percent of women without an inherited BRCA abnormality get ovarian cancer. BRCA2 BRCA2 gene is located on the 13th chromosome and is very large gene. BRCA2 is about twice the size of BRCA1 gene and has a complex structure. BRCA2 mutations have been associated with increased risk of breast cancer in both men and women. In contrast BRCA1 mutation in a male carrier does not significantly increase the risk of breast cancer. BRCA2 carrier men have about 6 percent chance of breast cancer development. BRCA2 mutations are also associated with increased risk of ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer and malignant melanoma. Together BRCA1 and BRCA2 account for the most of the genetic breast cancers. Other resources for breast cancer |