Key TakeawaysA large-scale study has narrowed down important genetic risk factors for breast cancer.While anyone, regardless of gender, can develop breast cancer, there are certain factors that put someone at greater risk of developing the disease, like family history.These findings may help doctors determine what to look out for when determining breast cancer risk through genetic testing.

Key Takeaways

A large-scale study has narrowed down important genetic risk factors for breast cancer.While anyone, regardless of gender, can develop breast cancer, there are certain factors that put someone at greater risk of developing the disease, like family history.These findings may help doctors determine what to look out for when determining breast cancer risk through genetic testing.

The study, which was published on January 20 in theNew England Journal of Medicine, analyzed data from more than 113,000 women—some who had breast cancer and some without the disease.The researchers specifically looked at 34 genes that are thought to raise a woman’s risk of breast cancer. The risk of developing breast cancer is partially linked with genetics, but figuring out exactly which genes increase the risk is still being explored.

Genetic Testing Is Beneficial for All Breast Cancer Patients, Study Finds

After studying the data, the researchers pared down the list of genes that can raise breast cancer risk to nine. Those include:

The importance of each gene varies depending on the type of cancer someone may have. Variations in five genes—ATM, BRCA1, BRCA2, CHEK2, and PALB2—were linked with a higher overall risk of developing breast cancer, while variants in ATM and CHEK2 were more likely to indicate a risk for estrogen receptor-positive breast cancers.

BRCA Mutations and Breast Cancer

“The results of this study define the genes that are most clinically useful for inclusion on panels for the prediction of breast cancer risk, as well as provide estimates of the risks associated with protein-truncating variants, to guide genetic counseling,” the researchers concluded.

What This Means For YouResearchers have pared down possible genetic risk factors for breast cancer. If you happen to have one of them, your doctor should be able to recommend any next steps to keep you as healthy as possible.

What This Means For You

Researchers have pared down possible genetic risk factors for breast cancer. If you happen to have one of them, your doctor should be able to recommend any next steps to keep you as healthy as possible.

Breast Cancer Risk

Breast cancer is the most common cancer for women in the U.S., behind skin cancers, according to the American Cancer Society.The average risk of developing breast cancer for a woman in the U.S. is 13%—or a one in eight chance.

While anyone, regardless of gender, can develop breast cancer, there are certain factors that put someone at greater risk of developing the disease, including:

Impact on Genetic Testing

This study “basically confirms what we already know,”Banu Arun, MD,a professor in the Department of Breast Medical Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, tells Verywell.

Doctors already test for these genes when screening patients for breast cancer risk, Arun says. However, she points out, the findings may help doctors home in on how many genes they test for. “I’m hoping this will clarify that maybe there are 50 genes out there that we can test for, but we don’t have to test for all 50,” she says.

The study also underscores that certain BRCA gene mutations have a higher risk for developing cancer, Arun says, adding, “this study and others can help give relative risks, so you can determine the significance of someone’s results based on that.”

If you do happen to test positive for one of these genes or genetic variants, Arun says you shouldn’t panic. “The ordering physician or genetic counselor will discuss next steps with you,” she says. “There are recommendations and best practices to help.”

What Is Genetic Testing for Cancer?

3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Consortium BCA.Breast cancer risk genes — association analysis in more than 113,000 women.New England Journal of Medicine. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1913948American Cancer Society.How common is breast cancer?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,What are the risk factors for breast cancer?

3 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Consortium BCA.Breast cancer risk genes — association analysis in more than 113,000 women.New England Journal of Medicine. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1913948American Cancer Society.How common is breast cancer?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,What are the risk factors for breast cancer?

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Consortium BCA.Breast cancer risk genes — association analysis in more than 113,000 women.New England Journal of Medicine. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1913948American Cancer Society.How common is breast cancer?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,What are the risk factors for breast cancer?

Consortium BCA.Breast cancer risk genes — association analysis in more than 113,000 women.New England Journal of Medicine. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1913948

American Cancer Society.How common is breast cancer?

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,What are the risk factors for breast cancer?

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