Breast cancer study uncovers new genetic variants for increased risk

Researchers hope new discoveries will help explain why some women are predisposed to breast cancer, as well as why certain forms are harder to treat

Common inherited genetic variants that together increase the risk of breast cancer by about a fifth have been identified by scientists.

A huge team of researchers working together around the world uncovered 65 new variants. On their own, they contribute around 4% of the two-fold heightened risk of women with a strong family history of breast cancer developing the disease.