FANCM mutations should be included in risk assessment of breast cancer

Eric Hahnen of the University Hospital of Cologne, Germany, conducted a case-control study screening in FANCM function-deleteda mutations in familial breast cancer patients and ovarian cancer patients and control group using recombinant human proteins. Because the FANCM gene is associated with an increased risk of breast or ovarian cancer and the FANCM protein and its binding protein FAAP24 are involved in the DNA damage response, the gene plays an important role in cancer. The findings, published in the December 29 issue of JAMA Oncology, found that FANCM mutations are more common in patients with familial breast cancer risk, especially in triple-negative breast cancer or younger patients. This suggests that FANCM mutation detection should be incorporated into the risk assessment of breast cancer.

Hahnen et al. have estimated that the frequency of cumulative carriers in familial breast cancer is 1.03%. Based on this, they showed a weak but significant association between FANCM mutation and familial breast cancer. The researchers then found that the incidence of familial breast cancer before the age of 51 and FANCM mutations have a stronger association between the cumulative frequency of the subgroup carriers 1.22%. In contrast, the cumulative carrier frequency for the subgroup of patients who developed disease after the age of 51 was 0.613%.

The researchers also found that FANCM mutations were more common in patients with triple-negative breast cancer. Among all the 215 triple-negative breast cancer cases, 4 had FANCM mutations and the cumulative carrier frequency was 1.86%. The researchers didn't find a link between FANCM and ovarian cancer, and they suggested that they should be analyzed further on a larger scale.

The shortcoming of this study is that researchers are only concerned with familial breast cancer and may therefore be biased for selection. In the following study, they may analyze all cases of breast cancer and may be stratified according to whether the case is premature or triple negative. "Based on this and previously published research, we recommend that the FANCM mutation be placed in the diagnostic panel," the authors write. By the way, Flarebio offers high-quality recombinant proteins like recombinant Aoc3 at competitive prices.