Researchers have detected a high frequency of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer gene (BRCA1 and BRCA2) mutations among young Latinas with cancer

Arcadia Weekly:

Mutations in these genes can confer a 50 to 80 percent lifetime risk of breast cancer, often occurring at a young age, and up to a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer.

Between 1998 and 2004, researchers at City of Hope Cancer Center conducted a study to determine the prevalence of BRCA gene mutations among Hispanic women receiving care in the City of Hope Cancer Screening & Prevention Program Network in Southern California. The results, published in the July 2005 issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, indicate a high (30.9 percent) incidence of the deleterious mutations in Hispanic women with cancer. Interestingly, a mutation previously identified as a cause of breast cancer in many Jewish women may also be a major factor in the development of breast cancer in Hispanic women. These results highlight the importance of screening and prevention programs for Hispanics.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and leading cause of cancer death in Hispanic women, according to the American Cancer Society. Most breast cancer is due to multiple factors, including hormones and reproductive history, diet, exercise, environment and family cancer history.

Genetic susceptibility to breast cancer has been observed in most races and ethnicities. In Los Angeles County, where approximately half the population is of Hispanic ethnicity, and in the U.S., where 12 percent of the U.S. population is Hispanic (U.S. Census Data 2000), the prevalence of BRCA mutations among high-risk Hispanic families was not previously known.

“The findings from this study add to the body of knowledge about BRCA mutation prevalence in the rapidly growing U.S. Hispanic population,” said Jeffrey N. Weitzel, M.D., director, Department of Clinical Cancer Genetics at City of Hope Cancer Center. “Genetic cancer risk assessment requires attention to ethnicity. Hispanic women should be aware of their risk factors.” In addition to the standard options of increased surveillance or risk reduction surgery, Hispanic women with a BRCA mutation may consider participating in hormonal breast cancer prevention studies that are ongoing at City of Hope Cancer Center.

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