Gene Expressed in 80% of Breast Cancers

In preliminary findings, a research team has discovered that a new gene, BP1, is expressed in 80% of breast cancer patients. The discovery was reported in the April 22, 2003, online issue of Breast Cancer Research.

The BP1 gene is an isoform previously discovered and cloned by Dr. Patricia Berg, associate professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at George Washington University Medical Center (GWU, Washington, DC, USA), who led the research. Dr. Berg has been studying the gene for 16 years.

"Because of these high numbers and our molecular studies, we believe that this gene may offer a useful new early target for breast cancer detection and therapy, and we must now conduct expedited research,” said Dr. Berg. In addition to Dr. Berg, the authors of the paper included scientists from the Children's National Medical Center, the University of Maryland Medical School, and Howard University College of Medicine (all in USA).

The GWU/Berg team also stated, "While the research into BP1 may impact all groups with breast cancer in that there was an overall higher expression rate, the research may prove especially helpful to African Americans, who disproportionately expressed the new gene.”