BRCA1 gene's breast cancer role identified

New York -- U.S. and Swedish cancer scientists have, for the first time, identified the role mutations of the BRCA1 gene have in the development of breast cancer.

The researchers led by Columbia University Professor Ramon Parsons and Lund University Professor Ake Borg in Sweden discovered BRCA1 mutations cause cancer by disabling a powerful tumor suppressor gene known as PTEN.

"These findings are exciting because ever since the link was established between BRCA1 and breast cancer more than 10 years ago, we have been frustrated by our lack of understanding about how mutations in this gene cause breast cancer," said Parsons. "We have been stymied by our limited resources to treat these cancers, which are associated with very poor prognoses.

"Now that we know that PTEN is involved, we finally have a target for therapy for these cancers," he added.

The study, which included Columbia medical student Lao Saal, is available online in the journal Nature Genetics and will appear in the journal's January print issue.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International.