Genetic Marker for Breast Cancer (broadcast Friday, March 7th, 2008)

Researchers have discovered a genetic marker that, if present, indicates a significantly increased risk of developing breast cancer. Women with the variation in their DNA are 1.4 times more likely to develop breast cancer during their lifetimes than women whose genes do not contain the marker. An article describing the work was published this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"This newly identified genetic marker will not have any immediate clinical implications or impact on current screening guidelines for familial breast cancer," said Ken Offit, one of the authors of the report. Offit said that rather than pointing to a new test, the findings "are exciting because they point us to new molecular pathways that may be associated with breast cancer.” We'll talk about the work and what it means for women. Teachers, find more information about using Science Friday as a classroom resource in the Kids' Connection.