A functional link between FOXA1 and breast cancer SNPs

Abstract

Genome-wide association studies have revealed a multitude of breast cancer-associated SNPs. The majority of these SNPs are located in noncoding regions of the genome. Yet how they contribute to breast cancer development is unknown. Recently, a groundbreaking study by the Lupien group has shown that risk-associated SNPs of breast cancer are enriched for FOXA1 binding sites, which influences the function of this transcription factor. © 2013 BioMed Central Ltd.