Obesity gene linked to 30% higher breast cancer risk

Tuesday, 24 May 2011 10:11 AM

Genetic research could help improve breast cancer treatments. A team in the US linked between the obesity associated gene (FTO) and breast cancer cells, giving those with a variant of the gene a 30% greater chance of developing breast cancer.

According to Cancer Research UK, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in the country.

While everyone has the FTO gene, only 18% have the variant targeted by the study. It’s now hope breast cancer treatments could become more personalised, tailored to an individual’s genetic make-up, to increase survival rates.

“This is a fascinating early finding, which fits with the known connections between obesity and breast cancer,” said Virginia Kaklamani, MD, oncologist at Northwestern Memorial, co-director of the Cancer Genetics Program at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University.

“This knowledge helps us better identify who is at an increased risk so one day, we can counter that risk through preventative measures and advanced screening.”

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