Paris, France – Scientists announced they had uncovered four more genes that play a role in breast cancer, widening the portrait of one of the stealthiest slayers of women.
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Until now, only about 25 percent of the genes that are suspected to cause inherited breast cancer have been identified.
The new culprits — flawed versions of genes called FGFR2, TNRC9, MAP3K1 and LSP1 — are believed to account for an additional four percent.
British-led researchers found them after sifting through through the DNA of nearly 50,000 women, half of them healthy and half of them patients with breast cancer.
Telltale "tags" of DNA code among the breast cancer group highlighted the four genes.
Their study is published by Nature, the British science journal. [AFP]