Scientists have recently discovered four new genes associated with breast cancer, proving that a blood test may detect women at risk of developing the disease.
The newly-discovered 4 genes are called MAP3K1, LZTR1, SAMHD1, and CDKN2A, and through a blood test, doctors can better identify women at risk of developing breast cancer.
Namely, there are important genes already known to be associated with breast cancer, such as the BRCA1 gene. A mutation in this gene is known to have increased the risk of breast cancer for Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie, who chose to have a mastectomy to prevent the disease, but scientists have now identified 4 previously unknown genes, one of which can make women 5 times more likely to develop breast cancer.
According to the British newspaper, the Daily Mail, about 1 in 200 women in the United Kingdom has a harmful gene from one of these genes, and this breakthrough means that future blood tests that are used to judge the genetic risk of breast cancer can identify women who have a high risk of developing it.
Professor Doug Easton, who led the study at the University of Cambridge, said the first major genes associated with breast cancer BRCA1, and BRCA2, were only discovered in the 1990s, so there is still a lot we don’t know.
The newspaper read: The four genes we discovered helped explain another 1%, which is an important step in finding thousands of women at greater risk of developing breast cancer and offering them more frequent screening, and this will make future genetic tests better and more accurate.
Moreover, the study, published in the journal Nature Genetics, looked at the genes of over 26,000 women with breast cancer and compared them with the genes of over 217,000 women without the disease.
The article added: Every gene in the human body is like a book containing instructions for the body to make proteins. Having a gene called MAP3K1 can increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer 5-fold, although it is rare. So far, the study, conducted alongside Laval University in Canada, has identified only 4 genes but suggests that what could be linked to up to 90 new breast cancer genes.
The newspaper also mentioned that the doctors should look for lumps and swellings, shrinkage of the skin, changes in color, secretions, and a rash or crusting around the nipple.
Researchers now need to examine more women to determine which of these 90 genes are significant.
The four new genes, like those found previously, may increase breast cancer risk by blocking proteins that either stop cancer cells from rapidly growing or stop DNA errors that can cause tumors to copy.
