Work

BRCA1-hapoinsufficiency: Unraveling the molecular and cellular basis for tissue-specific cancer

Year: 2016

Type: review

Abstract: Over the past 20 years tremendous progress has been made in understanding the function of BRCA1 gene products. Yet one question still remains: why is mutation of BRCA1 typically associated with preferential development of breast and ovarian cancers and not tumors in other tissues? Here we discuss recent evidence documenting the effect of BRCA1-haploinsufficiency in different cells and tissues and synthesize a model for how mutations in a single BRCA1 allele in human cells might preferentially confer increased cancer risk in breast epithelial cells.

Source: Cell Cycle

DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2016.1141841

Authors: Maja Sedic, Charlotte Kuperwasser

Institutions: Tufts University, Tufts Medical Center

Language: English

Topic: BRCA gene mutations in cancer

Subfield: Genetics

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: Breast Cancer Research Foundation, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development