A small fraction of breast cancer is the result of germline mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 cancer susceptibility genes. Mutation carriers frequently have a positive family history of breast and ovarian cancer, are often diagnosed at a young age, and may have a higher incidence of double or multiple primary breast tumours than breast cancer patients in general.
Department of Medical Genetics, Institute for Medical Biochemistry and Genetics, Panum Institute, Blegdamsvej 3, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark. nonni@rsp.is
