Gene That Can Lead to Breast Cancer Found

WASHINGTON —  Researchers have found an inherited abnormal gene that can lead to a high susceptibility for breast cancer.

It is a major discovery about the tendency for malignancies to be passed from generation to generation.

In a study to be published today in the journal Science, a group of scientists say the cancer-promoting mutation was found by studying the genetic pattern in a group of families that have an exceptionally high rate of six types of cancers, including breast cancer.

“Up until now, there have been no inherited genes isolated and identified which provided susceptibilities to some of the common adult malignancies,” said Dr. Stephen Friend, a Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center scientist.

Friend, lead author of the study, said the mutation was found on what is called the p53 cancer suppressor gene.

For people who inherit a mutated p53 gene, he said, “their chance of getting a malignancy by age 60 is 90%.”