Advances In Breast Cancer Research

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Breast cancer can be caused by a wide variety of factors including mutated genes. Now a study of mutated genes associated with breast cancer shows that there is a wide variety of genes leading to problems.

To give you an idea of the number, they found 73 different combinations of mutated cancer genes and the mutations have been found to correlate with age at diagnosis and cancer type.

This research provides a direct survey of the mutations in breast cancer, which the authors hope will influence strategies to help with treatment. Of course the best treatment for breast cancer is early detection and an opportunity to begin treatment early before spread. The hope is that understanding genetic links can help with detection and treatment.