Dr Jane E. Churpek present data on a genomic profiling study of African American women with breast cancer referred for genetic counseling at The University of Chicago during a press conference at the 2013 ASCO Annual Meeting in Chicago.

The study found that about one in five carries an inherited abnormality in at least one of 18 genes associated with breast cancer susceptibility. Such mutations were more prevalent among women with aggressive triple negative breast cancer, early onset disease, and a family history of breast and ovarian cancer. The findings suggest that broader genetic screening may be beneficial for these women and their family members.

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