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BRCA1 mutations and luminal-basal transformation

Abstract

The multifunctional roles of BRCA1 include its ability to regulate transcriptional processes that control differentiation at multiple levels, as well as functioning as a tumor suppressor. Data herein demonstrate that germline mutations in Brca1 impair luminal cell lineage and mammary development, with its deficiency converting ER-positive luminal tumors into basal-like cancers. Heterozygous mutations in Brca1 lead to downregulation of a number of luminal differentiation genes, explaining how it suppresses basal-like tumors, also highlighting its importance outside of its known highly publicized role in DNA repair.

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Correspondence to J Stebbing.

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Ng, T., Irshad, S. & Stebbing, J. BRCA1 mutations and luminal-basal transformation. Oncogene 32, 2712–2714 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/onc.2012.379

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