DNA Repair Gene Expression Levels as Indicators of Breast Cancer in the Breast Cancer Family Registry.

AIM: The expression level of DNA repair-related genes and their association with breast cancer status among participants of the New York site of the Breast Cancer Family Registry was investigated.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

RNA from mononuclear cells in 194 sister sets (n=475 women) were assayed for ATM, BRCA1, MSH2, MUTYH and XPC gene expression levels and analyzed using generalized estimating equations (GEE).

RESULTS

Individuals with decreased ATM and MSH2 expression had significantly higher odds for breast cancer compared to individuals with higher levels of expression (odds ratio (OR)=1.1, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.02, 1.18) and (OR=1.90, 95% CI=1.21, 2.97), respectively. Upon stratifying the GEE model, reductions in ATM and MSH2 expression levels was heightened among women with an extended family history (FH) of breast cancer.

CONCLUSION

Reduced expression of ATM and MSH2 compromises DNA repair capacity and, thereby, increases breast cancer prevalence.