Genetic variants associated with breast size also influence breast cancer risk.

ABSTRACT:

Background

While some factors of breast morphology, such as density, are directly implicated in breast cancer, the relationship between breast size and cancer is less clear. Breast size is moderately heritable, yet the genetic variants leading to differences in breast size have not been identified.

Methods

To investigate the genetic factors underlying breast size, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of self-reported bra cup size, controlling for age, genetic ancestry, breast surgeries, pregnancy history and bra band size, in a cohort of 16,175 women of European ancestry.

Results

We identified seven single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) significantly associated with breast size (p<5.10(-8)): rs7816345 near ZNF703, rs4849887 and (independently) rs176258

SUBMITTER: Eriksson N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3483246 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature