Clinicopathological characteristics of BRCA-associated breast cancer in Asian patients
- Author:
Eun-Kyu KIM
1
;
So Yeon PARK
;
Sung-Won KIM
Author Information
- Publication Type:Review
- From:Journal of Pathology and Translational Medicine 2020;54(4):265-275
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BRCA 1/2 germline mutations account for the majority of hereditary breast cancers. Since the identification of theBRCA genes, several attempts have been made to define the clinicopathological characteristics ofBRCA -associated breast cancer in comparison with sporadic breast cancer. Asians constitute 60% of the world population, and although the incidence of breast cancer in Asia remains low compared to the West, breast cancer is the most prevalent female cancer in the region. The epidemiological aspects of breast cancer are different between Asians and Caucasians. Asian patients present with breast cancer at a younger age than Western patients. The contributions ofBRCA1/2 mutations to breast cancer incidence are expected to differ between Asians and Caucasians, and the different genetic backgrounds among races are likely to influence the breast cancer phenotypes. However, most large-scale studies on the clinicopathological characteristics ofBRCA -associated breast cancer have been on Western patients, while studies on Asian populations were small and sporadic. In this review, we provide an overview of the clinical and pathological characteristics ofBRCA -associated breast cancer, incorporating findings on Asian patients.
