Study: Women With Genetic Rarity May Have Much Lower Breast Cancer Risk

Women possessing a newly discovered genetic rarity may have a much lower risk of breast cancer, according to researchers at the Quebec researchers.

Women with a short androgen receptor gene appear to have only half the risk of sporadic breast cancer of those with the longer form of the gene, according to a report published in Cancer Research. Sporadic breast cancer, opposed to hereditary breast cancer, makes up 90 percent of all breast cancers.

The short androgen receptor gene is a protective type, found in only 15 percent of the population.

Researchers report that more studies are underway to determine why the genes act the way they do. They are hopeful that subsequent findings could be used to develop a treatment for breast cancer.

Other Sources: Canadian Press