New genes associated with breast cancer risk have been identified by researchers. They have identified 15 genes and now total count of such genes has reached around 100 markers. This would assist in better screening. These new genes have been identified by scientists from QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute and Cambridge University, together with the international Breast Cancer Association Consortium (BCAC).

According to Professor Georgia Chenevix-Trench, head of QIMR Berghofer's Cancer Program, getting more information regarding the effects of these variants on the expression of nearby genes will help scientists understand the origin of breast cancer. It will also help find out how breast cancer could be prevented, she added.

According to QIMR Berghofer researcher Dr. Jonathan Beesley, three genes, SETBP1, RNF115 and PDZK1, which were not associated with breast cancer susceptibility, could be involved in development of the breast cancer.

Professor Chenevix-Trench also said that inclusion of the new variants will help in more accurate prediction of the level of breast cancer risk in a woman. These variants are common compared to others and have a lesser effect than other mutations such as BRCA1 and BRCA2. According to Professor Chenevix-Trench, they estimated that there are about 5% of women in the general population, who have double the risk of breast cancer than others.