Specific Genetic Variation Not Linked to Breast Cancer Risk

Behind the Cancer Headlines®

July 24, 2006

Women with two copies of a genetic variation called STK15 F31I do not have an increased risk of breast cancer, a new study suggests. However, a meta-analysis of related studies produced inconsistent results.

The study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, was led by Julian Peto, who heads the Cancer Research UK Epidemiology Group at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The team of researchers examined 507 patients with two primary breast cancers and 875 controls for the STK15 F31I genetic variation. They did not find an association between the genetic variation and breast cancer risk.

They suggest that conflicting results obtained from their meta-analysis may be due to publication bias or population differences.

SOURCE:

Journal of the National Cancer Institute, July 19, 2006