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Experts find two new breast cancer genes

Two new breast cancer genes, of which one reduces the chance of developing the disease while the other increases it, have been identified by an international team of scientists led by Cambridge University researchers.

The new study, published in Nature Genetics, found that one of the DNA segments increases breast cancer risk by about 12 per cent in those who carry one faulty copy of the gene, and by 23 per cent if they carry two mutated copies.

The other region reduces the risk by about 4 per cent in women with one faulty copy of the gene and by 11 per cent with those with two mutated copies.

Researchers have identified 13 genetic regions with common changes that alter breast cancer risk. The increased risks acquired from these faults are small, but as more are found it will be possible to create tests for combination of genes that significantly increase the risk.

Such tests could help doctors make better decisions about prevention, diagnosis and treatment of women who are more likely to develop breast cancer.

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