Breakthrough in fight to save younger breast cancer victims
UK scientists have identified a substance that may be to blame for higher death rates among women who get breast cancer aged between 15 and 39.
The find could help in choosing the best treatments for under-40s.
Lead author Dr William Tapper said bodies called single nucleotide polymorphisms in a particular gene increased the risk of early onset cancer progressing. The find had “exciting implications”, he added. The study, one of the largest ever into the link between genes and breast cancer survival, was done at Southampton University. US scientists have identified mutant proteins which cause some common tumours to spread. Prof Joe Ramos, of the University of Hawaii, said: “This could help fight brain tumours, melanoma and breast cancer.”