GENETIC SUSCEPTIBILITY TO BREAST AND OVARIAN-CANCER

5-10 % of women with breast cancer carry an inherited mutation in eith er the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. These genes confer a very high lifetime r isk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer (especially BRCA1) and male breas t cancer (especially BRCA2). These genes are large, of essentially unk nown function, and surprisingly, play a very small role in the develop ment of tumors in non-predisposed individuals. These genes have now be en cloned a highly automated genetic test developed and high risk popu lations have been screened to establish the utility of the test. The v alue to women and preliminary clinically recommendations are discussed .