Breast cancer prevention based on gene–environment interaction

Abstract

Breast cancer, the most common cancer in women, results from combined effects of genetic and environmental factors. Although a number of preventive measures have been suggested to reduce the risk of breast cancer, only a few (e.g., regular mammogram, etc.) proved to be efficient preventive modalities. Among many potential reasons, differences in individual susceptibility factors may complicate the efficacy of the intervention. A growing body of evidence shows that the strength of association between various dietary, behavioral (exercise and obesity), and environmental exposures, and breast cancer risk may be modified by individual genetic factors. Preventive strategies against breast cancer will be discussed considering the findings of the gene-environment interaction of breast cancer. These include behavior modification for high-risk subjects (primary prevention), early detection and extensive monitoring of genetically susceptible subjects and noninvasive treatment of early stage cancer cases (secondary prevention), and finally prophylactic and therapeutic intervention to slow the progression of diseases (tertiary prevention). The accumulating evidences of the gene-environment interactions provide a better understanding of the breast cancer development and enable us to adopt individualized preventive strategies for personalized health care.

Additive effect of RET polymorphisms on sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma susceptibility and tumor aggressiveness

“…SNPs are involved in gene-environment interaction and commonly associated with a large number of sporadic cancers (32). The role of RET polymorphisms in the development or progression of MTC is still controversial.…”

A genetic risk predictor for breast cancer using a combination of low-penetrance polymorphisms in a Japanese population

“…In Japan, the incidence rate of breast cancer has increased rapidly for the last 25 years, albeit that it is still several-fold less than that in Western countries [1,2]. This rapid increase has been associated with changes in the prevalence of established risk factors, including early age at menarche, late menopause, no parity, late first full-term pregnancy, obesity, and alcohol consumption, which may be partly due to westernized social and behavioral changes in Japanese women [3].…”

Association between BRCA1 rs799917 polymorphism and breast cancer risk: A meta-analysis of 19,878 subjects

“…Considering its position as the leading health problem for women, breast cancer has been one of the most appealing cancer types in gene studies since last century [5]. Like most human cancers, breast cancer is also caused by environmental and genetic factors [6]. Previous studies have demonstrated that complicated genetic, epidemiological and epigenetic factors contribute to breast cancer etiology [7].…”