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BRCA1 mutations and luminal-basal transformation

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Abstract

The multifunctional roles of BRCA1 include its ability to regulate transcriptional processes that control differentiation at multiple levels, as well as functioning as a tumor suppressor. Data herein demonstrate that germline mutations in Brca1 impair luminal cell lineage and mammary development, with its deficiency converting ER-positive luminal tumors into basal-like cancers. Heterozygous mutations in Brca1 lead to downregulation of a number of luminal differentiation genes, explaining how it suppresses basal-like tumors, also highlighting its importance outside of its known highly publicized role in DNA repair.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Richard Dimbleby Department of Cancer Research, Randall Division and Division of Cancer Studies, Kings College London, Guy’s Medical School Campus, London, UK

    T Ng & S Irshad

  2. Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Unit, Research Oncology, King’s College London, Guy’s Medical School Campus, London, UK

    T Ng & S Irshad

  3. Department of Medical Oncology, Imperial College, Hammersmith Campus, London, UK

    J Stebbing

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  1. T Ng
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  2. S Irshad
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  3. J Stebbing
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Correspondence to J Stebbing.

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Ng, T., Irshad, S. & Stebbing, J. BRCA1 mutations and luminal-basal transformation. Oncogene 32, 2712–2714 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/onc.2012.379

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/onc.2012.379

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