Are estrogen receptor-positive breast cancers in BRCA1 mutation carriers sporadic?

Abstract

There is a strong association between BRCA1 mutation carrier status and estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer. This has led to the idea that estrogen receptor-positive breast cancers in BRCA1 mutation carriers may be incidental or sporadic in nature and not as a direct result of BRCA1 dysfunction. A recent paper in Breast Cancer Research challenges this view. © 2010 BioMed Central Ltd.