Gene-Expression Profiles in Hereditary Breast Cancer

• Published in: The New England journal of medicine Vol. 344; no. 26; pp. 2028 - 2029
• Main Authors: Olopade, O I, Grushko, T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Massachusetts Medical Society 28-06-2001
• Subjects: BRCA2 Protein; Breast Neoplasms - genetics; Female; Gene Expression; Genes, BRCA1; Genes, erbB-2; Humans; Methylation; Mutation; Neoplasm Proteins - genetics; Promoter Regions, Genetic - physiology; Transcription Factors - genetics
• ISSN: 0028-4793; 1533-4406
• DOI: 10.1056/NEJM200106283442613

To the Editor:
The sample set used by Hedenfalk et al. (Feb. 22 issue)
1
may not be representative of the natural distribution of the characteristics of tumors with
BRCA1
mutations, tumors with
BRCA2
mutations, and sporadic cases of breast cancer. The proportions of tumors with
BRCA1
mutations and tumors with
BRCA2
mutations that are reported to be negative or positive for estrogen receptors vary widely depending on age and ethnic background of the study cohort.
2
Human mammary glands contain two distinct types of epithelial cells, basal and luminal. Perou and colleagues
3
have suggested that estrogen-receptor–negative cancers encompass at least three . . .