Have the roles of two functional polymorphisms in breast cancer, R72P in P53 and MDM2-309 in MDM2, become clearer?

Abstract

Genetic differences between individuals have been predicted to account for disparate outcomes in patients diagnosed with cancer. The search for genetic determinants has been ongoing for a considerable amount of time and it is only now that insights have been gained into which polymorphisms are most likely to be important in determining not only disease likelihood but also outcome. The quest to be able to accurately predict patient outcomes in breast cancer may now be a step closer as increased sample size is leading to more robust statistical analysis and a better understanding of molecular mechanisms of disease are forthcoming. © 2010 BioMed Central Ltd.