Mutations in breast cancer

The genetics of spontaneous breast cancer is reviewed. We have identified three regions of amplification and nine chromosomal arms with deletions in the genome. The significance and interrelations of these mutations is discussed with respect to the complex genetics of breast carcinoma. Recent work identifying a commonly deleted region between D17S846 and D17S746 is presented, which is approximately 0.5–1.0 Mb centromeric to the newly described BRCA1 gene candidate. Possible explanations for the different locations of our deleted region and the BRCA1 gene are presented.