The BRCA1/2 pathway prevents hematologic cancers in addition to breast and ovarian cancers.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that inactivation of virtually any component within the pathway containing the BRCA1 and BRCA2 proteins would increase the risks for lymphomas and leukemias. In people who do not have BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations, the encoded proteins prevent breast/ovarian cancer. However BRCA1 and BRCA2 proteins have multiple functions including participating in a pathway that mediates repair of DNA double strand breaks by error-free methods. Inactivation of BRCA1, BRCA2 or any other critical protein within this "BRCA pathway" due to a gene mutation should inactivate this error-free repair process. DNA fragments produced by double strand breaks are then left to non-specific processes that rejoin them without regard for preserving n

SUBMITTER: Friedenson B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1959234 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature