SEARCHING for common genes that might be linked to increased susceptibility to certain cancers could be a waste of money, according to a US National Cancer Institute (NCI) researcher.
Previous studies have identified single gene mutations that greatly increase the risk of certain cancers, such as the BRCA2 gene variant linked to breast cancer. These are relatively rare in the general population. Most cancer is thought to be linked to more common low-risk mutations that may slightly increase sensitivity to environmental and lifestyle factors that can cause cancer. The NCI is currently directing $14 million at the search for…
