Inherited factors that predispose to
breast cancer. Put otherwise, these
genes create one more susceptible to the
malady and so
magnify the
risk of developing
breast cancer. Two of these genes,
BRCA1 and BRCA2, have been identified (and prominently publicised). Different another
genes (those for the Li-Fraumeni syndrome,
Cowden malady, Muir-Torre syndrome, and ataxia-telangiectasia) are
also known to predispose to
breast cancer. Howeverm, since all of these known
breast cancer susceptibility
genes together do not account for more than a
minor fraction (1/5th at most) of
breast cancer that clusters in families, it is clear that more
breast cancer genes stay to be discovered. See
related entries to: BRCA1; BRCA2; Breast cancer, familial.