Breast Cancer Risk: Breast Density Gene Located

Studying the DNA of 889 people, gene hunters have identified a region on chromosome 5p that is significantly associated with dense breast tissue, a known risk factor for breast cancer. The study suggests that genes which influence breast density could serve as a predictive marker for disease and provide a biological target for agents that may reduce breast cancer risk by reducing breast density. Women with dense breasts -- meaning the breast has a smaller proportion of fat relative to stromal and epithelial tissues - are three to five times more likely to develop breast cancer than women with less dense breasts.