BP1 Gene Linked to Breast Cancer

The discovery of a new gene linked with breast cancer could lead to new treatments and offer an explanation as to why African-American women are more likely to die from breast cancer than Caucasians. The gene, called BP1, was found in 80% of the samples from breast cancer patients. Out of the 46 samples, 57% of the Caucasian patients tested positive, compared with the 89% from African Americans, according to a report published in the journal Breast Cancer Research (June 2003).