Oncology & Cancer

New pathways to target breast cancer

A pathway helping the breast cancer protein BRCA1 repair damaged DNA has been identified by University of Queensland researchers in a study that will inform future targeted therapies.

Oncology & Cancer

Oral contraceptives lower ovarian cancer risk in BRCA carriers

(HealthDay)—Oral contraceptive use is associated with a reduced risk for ovarian cancer for BRCA mutation carriers, according to a study published in the July issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Medical research

Changes detected in BRCA1 breast cells before they turn cancerous

A new study funded by Cancer Research UK has mapped out some of the earliest changes that occur in seemingly healthy breast tissue long before any tumors appear, which could have significant implications for the early detection ...

Oncology & Cancer

New recommendations on genetic testing for prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is a leading cause of death from cancer in the US and especially in the Philadelphia region. Consistently, Philadelphia has outpaced the state of PA and the nation in diagnoses and death from prostate cancer. ...

Oncology & Cancer

Studying the development of ovarian cancer with organoids

High-grade serous ovarian cancer is the most common type of ovarian cancer, and has the lowest rate of survival. It is often only diagnosed when it has already spread within the pelvis and abdomen, making it harder to treat. ...

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BRCA1

BRCA1 ( /ˈbrækə/; breast cancer 1, early onset) is a human caretaker gene that produces a protein called breast cancer type 1 susceptibility protein, responsible for repairing DNA. The first evidence for the existence of the gene was provided by the King laboratory at UC Berkeley in 1990. The gene was later cloned in 1994 by scientists at Myriad Genetics.

BRCA1 is expressed in the cells of breast and other tissue, where it helps repair damaged DNA, or destroy cells if DNA cannot be repaired. If BRCA1 itself is damaged, damaged DNA is not repaired properly and this increases risks for cancers.

The protein encoded by the BRCA1 gene combines with other tumor suppressors, DNA damage sensors, and signal transducers to form a large multi-subunit protein complex known as the BRCA1-associated genome surveillance complex (BASC). The BRCA1 protein associates with RNA polymerase II, and through the C-terminal domain, also interacts with histone deacetylase complexes. Thus, this protein plays a role in transcription, DNA repair of double-stranded breaks ubiquitination, transcriptional regulation as well as other functions.

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