Klin Onkol 2006; 19(Suppl): 48-54.
Summary
Breast cancer is the most frequent malignancy diagnosed in women in the western world, affecting approximately 1 in 10 women. Estimated 5-7% of all breast cancers can be of hereditary origin. Familial cases of the breast cancer are characterised by relatively young age at diagnoses, an increased risk of bilateral breast cancer, and a strong association with ovarian cancer. Inherited mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 are the major reason for the genetic predisposition to these cancers. Here, we summarised what is known about the genetic susceptibility to breast and ovarian cancers, biological functions of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, histopathological features, specific preventive and therapeutic intervention of the cancers in mutation carriers.
