BRCA2 Gene News and Research

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BRCA2 is a gene on chromosome 13 that normally helps to suppress cell growth. A person who inherits certain mutations (changes) in a BRCA2 gene has a higher risk of getting breast, ovarian, prostate, and other types of cancer.

Elucidating the function of BRCA2 gene offers insight into cancer development

A new study shows exactly how the gene BRCA2, linked to susceptibility to breast and ovarian cancer, functions to repair damaged DNA.

3 Apr 2023

Researchers highlight the importance of localizing BRCA gene mutations for better ovarian cancer treatment

Mutations of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which are inherited by 1 in 400 and 1 in 800 people respectively, significantly increase the risk of certain cancers such as ovarian, breast, pancreatic and prostate cancer.

28 Nov 2022

Two new studies help improve the understanding of ovarian cancer

Two new discoveries led by Cedars-Sinai Cancer investigators help improve the understanding of what drives the development of ovarian cancer and why some women's tumors do not respond to therapy.

11 Oct 2022

Insight into the Breast Cancer Landscape with Breast Cancer Now

In this interview, we speak with Dr. Simon Vincent, Director of Research, Support, and Influencing at Breast Cancer Now, about the current landscape of breast cancer.

12 Apr 2022

Defective gene in blood cancers could be treated with already available drugs

A defective gene, normally found in blood cancers, could be treated with drugs already available for cancers with similar gene defects, scientists at Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Birmingham have revealed.

13 Jan 2022

Structure of BRCA2 protein complex critical for DNA repair solved

The initials BRCA2 may be best known for a gene associated with many cases of breast cancer, and the protein encoded by the BRCA2 gene is critical to repairing breaks in DNA.

13 Aug 2021

Researchers use functional test to measure the effect of inherited variants in BRCA2 cancer gene

Researchers at Mayo Clinic have combined results from a functional test measuring the effect of inherited variants in the BRCA2 breast and ovarian cancer gene with clinical information from women who received genetic testing to determine the clinical importance of many BRCA2 variants of uncertain significance (VUS).

20 Feb 2021

Study paves way for identifying ovarian cancer patients who will not benefit from combination therapy

A study suggests it may be possible to identify those who will not benefit from drug combination for advanced ovarian cancer.

19 Mar 2020

PSA testing can help detect prostate cancer in men with BRCA2 gene fault

Men with the BRCA2 gene fault have an increased risk of prostate cancer and could benefit from PSA (prostate specific antigen) testing to help detect the disease earlier, according to researchers funded by Cancer Research UK.

17 Sep 2019

New therapy may kill cancer cells in inherited breast cancer

Breast cancer begins when the cells in the breast begin to grow out of control. The cells form a tumor, which can become malignant if they invade and spread to surrounding tissues. Like any other cancers, breast cancer has many risk factors that can’t be changed, like family history.

28 Aug 2019

Women who inherit BRCA mutations have high risk of developing cancer

Women who inherit harmful mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene are at high risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer.

24 Jul 2019

New research uncovers mechanism behind the newest generation of cancer drugs

New research that uncovers the mechanism behind the newest generation of cancer drugs is opening the door for better targeted therapy.

9 Jul 2019

PCRF awards £1.2M grants for new research projects tackling pancreatic cancer

Seven innovative research projects tackling pancreatic cancer have been awarded grants totalling £1.2M by the UK medical research charity, Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund.

28 May 2019

Community hospitals link arms with prestigious facilities to raise their profiles

After seven years of a vigorous fight, Jim Hart worried he was running out of options. Diagnosed with prostate cancer at age 60, Hart had undergone virtually every treatment — surgery, radiation and hormones — to eradicate it. But a blood test showed that his level of prostate-specific antigen, which should have been undetectable, kept rising ominously. And doctors couldn’t determine where the residual cancer was lurking.

29 Jan 2019

U.S. Department of Defense grants 'Impact Award' to explore therapeutic options against advanced prostate cancer

The U.S. Department of Defense has granted the "Impact Award" to explore new therapeutic options against advanced prostate cancer - scientifically known as castration-resistant or hormone therapy resistant prostate cancer- to a multidisciplinary team of researchers made up of the Prostate Cancer Clinical Research Unit of the Spanish National Cancer Research Center, led by David Olmos, the Prostate Cancer Translational Research Group of the Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology, led by Joaquín Mateo, and the Genetics and Solid Tumors Laboratory of the University of Washington, led by Colin Pritchard.

7 Nov 2018

Beyond BRCA: Epigenetic Silencing in Breast Cancer

An interview with Professor William Newman, discussing his recent discovery in the field of breast cancer research, and the options that this will provide for women who have a family history of breast cancer but test negative for BRCA1/2 mutations.

8 Oct 2018

Pancreatic cancer patients with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations fare better on platinum-based chemotherapy

A small study of adults with the most common form of pancreatic cancer adds to evidence that patients with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations long linked to a high risk of breast cancer have poorer overall survival rates than those without the mutations.

17 May 2018

Disruption of the body's circadian rhythm linked to increased risk of breast cancer

For years, doctors have associated the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations with an increased risk of breast cancer.

9 May 2018

New test predicts which BRCA2 gene mutations lead to breast, ovarian cancers

A new test developed by researchers at Mayo Clinic shows which mutations in the BRCA2 gene make women susceptible to developing breast or ovarian cancers. The research behind the test was published today in the American Journal of Human Genetics.

25 Jan 2018

Research reveals cost-effectiveness of whole-population screening for breast, ovarian cancer gene mutations

Screening the entire population for breast and ovarian cancer gene mutations, as opposed to just those at high-risk of carrying this mutation, is cost effective and could prevent more ovarian and breast cancers than the current clinical approach, according to research published today in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

18 Jan 2018