Review article
Genetics, biomarkers, and control of breast cancer: A review

https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-4608(84)90087-6Get rights and content

Abstract

More has been written about the epidemiology of breast cancer than possibly any other form of cancer affecting mankind. However, in the face of this intense interest, only a paucity of attention has been given to the role of genetics in its etiology. This review represents an attempt by the investigators to provide a comprehensive coverage of hereditary breast cancer. Included are pertinent endogeneous and exogeneous risk factors, which in certain circumstances, may significantly influence the role of primary genetic factors. Hereditary breast cancer is heterogeneous. When discussing the subject, therefore, one must be precise relevant to the particular heterogeneous form of concern, based on differing tumor associations. It is probably not appropriate to discuss “hereditary breast cancer” without qualification of the specific hereditary breast cancer syndrome of concern; i.e., the SBLA syndrome, breast/ovarian cancer syndrome, and others. This reasoning also applies to attempts at linking biomarkers to hereditary breast cancer. Finally, in addition to ongoing discussions on the cardinal principles that associate with hereditary forms of breast cancer, its frequency, and new developments in biomarkers, we have provided surveillance/management programs that embrace those facets of the natural history of this disease.

References (192)

  • W.E. Heston

    Genetics of cancer

    J Hered

    (1974)
  • J.J. Bittner

    Relation of nursing to the extra chromosome theory of breast cancer in mice

    Am J Cancer

    (1939)
  • W.E. Heston et al.

    Gene—milk agent relationship in mammary tumor development

    JNCI

    (1945)
  • P. Bentvelzen

    Hereditary infections with mammary tumor viruses in mice

  • R.J. Huebner et al.

    Oncogenes of RNA tumor viruses as determinants of cancer

  • D.H. Moore et al.

    Search for a human breast cancer virus

    Nature

    (1971)
  • J. Schlom et al.

    RNA-dependent DNA polymerase activity in virus-like particles isolated from human milk

    Nature

    (1971)
  • Long-acting thyroid stimulator (LATS)

    Lancet

    (1970)
  • H.M. Temin

    RNA-directed DNA synthesis

    Sci Am

    (1972)
  • Human oncogenes

    Lancet

    (1982)
  • C.J. Tabin et al.

    Mechanism of activation of a human oncogene

    Nature

    (1982)
  • E.P. Reddy et al.

    A point mutation is responsible for the acquisition of transforming properties by the T24 human bladder carcinoma oncogenes

    Nature

    (1982)
  • L.F. Parada et al.

    Human EJ bladder carcinoma oncogene is homologue of Harvey sarcoma virus ras gene

    Nature

    (1982)
  • More about human oncogenes

    Lancet

    (1982)
  • A.Y. Sakaguchi et al.

    Human c-Ki-ras2 proto-oncogene on chromosome 12

    Science

    (1983)
  • P.P. Broca
  • O. Jacobsen

    Heredity in Breast Cancer: A Genetic and Clinical Study of Two Hundred Probands

    (1946)
  • J.E. Lane-Clayton

    A further report on cancer of the breast with special reference to its associated conditions

    Rep Minist Hlth No. 32

    (1926)
  • J.M. Wainwright

    A comparison of conditions associated with breast cancer in Great Britain and America

    Am J Cancer

    (1931)
  • R. Martynova

    On the genetics of breast cancer in women

  • L.S. Penrose et al.

    A genetical study of human mammary cancer

    Ann Eug

    (1948)
  • C.M. Woolf

    Investigations on genetic aspects of carcinoma of the stomach and breast

    Univ Calif Press

    (1955)
  • M.T. Macklin

    Comparison of the number of breast cancer deaths observed in relatives of breast cancer patients and the number expected on the basis of mortality rates

    JNCI

    (1959)
  • A.M. Lilienfeld

    The epidemiology of breast cancer

    Cancer Res

    (1963)
  • C.C. Harris et al.

    Individual differences in cancer susceptibility

    Ann Int Med

    (1980)
  • G. Kellerman et al.

    Genetic variation of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase in human lymphocytes

    Am J Hum Genet

    (1973)
  • D.W. Nebert et al.

    Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase induction (AHH locus) as a possible genetic marker for cancer

  • R. Doll

    An epidemiologic perspective of the biology of cancer

    Cancer Res

    (1978)
  • B. MacMahon et al.

    Etiology of human breast cancer: A review

    JNCI

    (1973)
  • M.T. Macklin

    Relative status of parity and genetic background in producing human breast cancer

    JNCI

    (1959)
  • D.E. Anderson

    A genetic study of human breast cancer

    JNCI

    (1972)
  • D.E. Anderson

    Genetic predisposition to breast cancer

  • H.T. Lynch

    Hereditary Factors In Carcinoma

  • H.T. Lynch et al.

    Heredity and breast cancer: implications for cancer detection

    Med Times

    (1966)
  • H.T. Lynch et al.

    Early age of onset in familial breast cancer: genetic and cancer control implications

    Arch Surg

    (1976)
  • R.E. Harris et al.

    Familial breast cancer: Risk to the contralateral breast

    JNCI

    (1978)
  • H.T. Lynch et al.

    Tumor variation in families with breast cancer

    JAMA

    (1972)
  • H.T. Lynch et al.

    Genetic factors in breast cancer: A survey

    Pathol Ann

    (1976)
  • H.T. Lynch et al.

    Familial association of breast/ovarian carcinoma

    Cancer

    (1978)
  • H.T. Lynch et al.

    Genetic factors in families with combined gastrointestinal and breast cancer

    Am J Gastroent

    (1973)
  • Cited by (0)

    Deceased July 7, 1983.

    View full text