Pathology of hereditary breast cancer. [Cell Oncol (Dordr). 2011] - PubMed result

Cell Oncol (Dordr). 2011 Feb 19. [Epub ahead of print]

Pathology of hereditary breast cancer.
van der Groep P, van der Wall E, van Diest PJ.

Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands.


Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hereditary breast cancer runs in families where several members in different generations are affected. Most of these breast cancers are caused by mutations in the high penetrance genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 accounting for about 5% of all breast cancers. Other genes that include CHEK2, PTEN, TP53, ATM, STK11/LKB1, CDH1, NBS1, RAD50, BRIP1 and PALB2 have been described to be high or moderate penetrance breast cancer susceptibility genes, all contributing to the hereditary breast cancer spectrum. However, in still a part of familial hereditary breast cancers no relationship to any of these breast cancer susceptibility genes can be found. Research on new susceptibility genes is therefore ongoing.

DESIGN: In this review we will describe the function of the today known high or moderate penetrance breast cancer susceptibility genes and the consequences of their mutated status. Furthermore, we will focus on the histology, the immunophenotype and genotype of breast cancers caused by mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes and the other high or moderate penetrance breast cancer susceptibility genes. Finally, an overview of the clinical implications of hereditary breast cancer patients will be provided.

CONCLUSION: This information leads to a better understanding of the morphological, immunohistochemical and molecular characteristics of different types of hereditary breast cancers. Further, these characteristics offer clues for diagnosis and new therapeutic approaches.

PMID: 21336636 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Pathology of hereditary breast cancer. [Cell Oncol (Dordr). 2011] - PubMed result