Worldwide effort IDs 72 genetic mutations that lead to breast cancer
Pink ribbons seem to be popping up everywhere, with October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month. On Monday, Oct. 23, new research from a massive collaboration illuminated genetic causes of breast cancer.
The findings are the result of work by the OncoArray Consortium, a huge endeavour involving 550 researchers from around 300 different institutions in six continents. In total, they analysed genetic data from 275,000 women, of whom 146,000 had been diagnosed with breast cancer. The results were published in both Nature and Nature Genetics.
"These findings add significantly to our understanding of the inherited basis of breast cancer," said Doug Easton from the University of Cambridge, one of the lead investigators on the study. "As well as identifying new genetic variants, we have also confirmed many that we had previously suspected. There are some clear patterns in the genetic variants that should help us understand why some women are predisposed to breast cancer, and which genes and mechanisms are involved."
Check out more about the breakthroughs at CNN:
Nicholas joined TriMed in 2016 as the managing editor of the Chicago office. After receiving his master’s from Roosevelt University, he worked in various writing/editing roles for magazines ranging in topic from billiards to metallurgy. Currently on Chicago’s north side, Nicholas keeps busy by running, reading and talking to his two cats.