abstract: Shared Genetic Basis for Breast Cancer and Breast Density

Shared Genetic Basis for Breast Cancer and Breast Density:

" Together, our results show that PMD and breast cancer have a shared genetic basis that is mediated through a large number of common variants."

Percent mammographic breast density (PMD) is a strong heritable risk factor for breast cancer. However, the pathways through which this risk is mediated are still unclear. To explore whether PMD and breast cancer have a shared genetic basis, we identified genetic variants most strongly associated with PMD in a published meta-analysis of five genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and used these to construct risk scores for 3,628 breast cancer cases and 5,190 controls from the UK2 GWAS of breast cancer.

Breast density 'linked to specific types of breast cancer' | International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

"Given that the magnitude of the association with breast density is strong across all breast cancer subtypes and particularly for [oestrogen receptor]-negative disease, breast density should be included in risk prediction models across tumour subtypes," the researchers said.

Breast Density Not a Risk Factor for BRCA Carriers - Does not appear to increase risk for breast cancer in women with the mutation - ModernMedicine

MONDAY, July 12 (HealthDay News) -- "Although breast density is a risk factor for breast cancer in the general population, it does not appear to increase risk in women with BRCA mutations, according to research published online July 12 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology...."