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New York, NY - Study by NYU Pinpoints Ashkenazi Jewish Women For Risk of Breast Cancer |
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BRCA1 and BRCA2, dubbed the "Jewish breast cancer genes", were discovered in the 1990s, and are now among the most heavily researched genetic mutations in the world of cancer research. The pair of genes is responsible for creating proteins to fix broken DNA strands. But When the genes are mutated, the cells produce proteins which are unable to repair broken DNA, leading to the creation of cancer instead.
A new research project out of New York University - the Jewish Women's Breast and Ovarian Cancer Genetics Study - was launched in late September. Researchers will travel across the United States, collecting DNA samples of thousands of older Jewish women who do not have cancer in order to determine why they were spared, with a focus on how the cancer process might be prevented.
A recent trend among women with the genetic defect is to preemptively remove both breasts in order to all but eliminate the risk of breast cancer. Some women have also opted to have their ovaries removed, to prevent ovarian cancer and reduce the risk of breast cancer.
A concurrent study is being done on a drug which was created to act specifically on defective cells caused by BRCA1 and BRCA2. The new drug would eliminate the need for chemotherapy or other procedures which also eradicate healthy cells, only killing cells with mutated BRCA genes.
The drug could also be developed as a prophylactic treatment in women who are predisposed to cancer caused by BRCA mutation, but who have not yet developed the illness.
Other research is being conducted into women who have mutated BRCA but who do not develop cancer. A consortium of investigators from the University of Cambridge is looking into genes which interact with BRCA genes, leading to a higher chance of cancer.
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Read Comments (7) — Post Yours »
1
Nov 03, 2008 at 10:36 AM It's Me Says:
This is not new news. All women should know the risk factors that put them even more at risk.
2
Nov 03, 2008 at 10:55 AM Brica1 Says:
Its indeed sad there was only one presidential candidate this year that had a very specific and detailed pln to tackle this disease on all fronts.
Senator Hillary Clinton.
I'll vote for the first candidate that comes close to matching her breast cancer plan.
3
Nov 03, 2008 at 11:03 AM Anonymous Says:
“ Its indeed sad there was only one presidential candidate this year that had a very specific and detailed pln to tackle this disease on all fronts.
Senator Hillary Clinton.
I'll vote for the first candidate that comes close to matching her breast cancer plan. ”
Brica1 -- Hillary is still in the Senate. If enough people write her and encourage her to submit the plan anyway, maybe whoever wins the White House will sign it!
4
Nov 03, 2008 at 03:10 PM Anonymous Says:
What we need is more people converting to Judaism so we can dilute out these terrible genes.
5
Nov 04, 2008 at 08:05 AM anonymous Says:
The key to survival is early detection which is only possible through a mammography and in younger women a mammography, MRI or sonogram. It is curable if detected before stage 2
6
Nov 04, 2008 at 08:11 AM anonymous Says:
when making an appointment select an oncologist or an imaging center which has a good reputation. Not every physician is as qualified to read the films and the films are the source of the diagnosis
7
Nov 04, 2008 at 06:19 PM anonymous Says:
The more adiposity or fatty tissue there is it is more difficult to read the film. Also every before G'd forbid diagnosed with any abnormality every women should have a baseline mamography taken even if she has to pay herself for film for comperative analysis.