New genetic info

Found this new info:
"Ovarian Cancer Susceptibility SNPs Signify 40% Increased Risk
As reported by BBC News. 2009 Aug 2

British researchers have identified a gene linked to ovarian cancer that, when present in 2 copies, increases the risk by about 40%. The finding adds more evidence for the role of genetic variants in the development of ovarian cancer. Although BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes have been associated with a higher risk of ovarian cancer, in addition to breast cancer, these genes occur rather rarely in the population and account for only about 5% of cases of ovarian cancer. In contrast, double copies of the gene identified by the researchers occur in approximately 15% of women in the UK.

The research was conducted by an international team led by the Cancer Research UK Genetic Epidemiology Unit of the University of Cambridge and University College London (UCL). In analyzing the genomes of 1810 women with ovarian cancer and 2535 women who did not have the cancer, the scientists identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on chromosome 9 that were associated with an elevated risk of ovarian cancer. As this is the first time that SNPs have been linked with ovarian cancer, cancer experts consider it an important discovery. The association was validated by comparisons involving 7000 women with ovarian cancer and 10,000 women without cancer. The identification of genetic variants related to ovarian cancer may help in early detection and in counseling women at risk.

The research results were published in the August 2 advance online issue of Nature Genetics. "