Posted by Kelly Jackson (42098678)
The Article: “Breast-feeding and the Risk of Breast Cancer in BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutation Carriers”, published in the Journal of National Cancer institute in 2004 has found interesting links between breast feeding and the translation of the breast cancer genes: BRCA1 and BRCA1. The authors of the article conducted a study which drew on various other research works to ascertain whether or not breast feeding had an influence on the chances of a woman that had breastfed getting breast cancer, compared to a woman that had not breast fed. More specifically, the studied attempted to ascertain whether breast feeding women had a lessened chance of experiencing breast cancer, and particularly those that carried the deleterious BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation genes.
It was found that women who carried the BRCA1 mutation had a significantly lessened risk of contracting breast cancer if breastfeeding had been undertaken for one year, whereas women that carried the BRCA2 mutation and breastfed were as likely to contract breast cancer as those who did not breast feed. It is advocated that breastfeeding habits are not the cause of reduced cancer risks, but rather, those women that had difficulty breast feeding were more likely to contract breast cancer.
The connection between breast feeding and gene translation is suggested to be connected to hormonal changes that occur both before, during and post partum. This suggestion is supported by data that advocates that women who exclusively breastfed for six months post partum had a significantly decreased chance of ovulation (2-5%). Ovulation levels over life times has been linked to breast cancer risk, with those ovulating more frequently, more likely to contract breast cancer.
The gene BRCA1 is critical to both proliferation and differentiation in the breast tissue. Studies have been undertaken that suggest BRCA1 is strongly linked to a prevention of cell proliferation that results from increased oestrogen levels. This gene is relevant not only in mutant proliferation, but also the proper development of breast tissue. Mice that underwent BRCA1 deletion failed to develop normal mammary tissue, with the tissue that did develop, unable to differentiate during pregnancy. This is reflected in a study study that suggests that breast cancer is related to the proliferation of breast tissue and inversely related to the degree of differentiation.
In conclusion, carriers of the BRCA1 gene have a significantly decreased risk of breast cancer when breast feeding has been undertaken for one year. Conversely, those who carry the BRCA2 gene and breast feed have the same breast cancer chances as those who do not breast feed. When the increased health benefits for both the infant and mother are considered, it would be beneficial to the health of both mother and infant to breast feed, regardless of the presence of breast cancer associated genes, but particularly for those that are carriers of the BRCA1 gene.
Development of breast cancer tissue in relation to genetics and the gene BRCA1.
http://www.nature.com/ng/journal/v40/n1/images/ng0108-8-F1.jpg
Correlation between PTEN gene and mutated BRCA gene, resulting PTEN gene remaining “broken” and resulting in mistranslation and cancer.
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The role of BRCA 1 in gene repair and the DNA replication cycle
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Original article link:
http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/96/14/1094#R1
Other informative links:
