Scientists from the Lundberg Laboratory for Cancer Research and the plastic surgery Clinic at the Sahlgrenska Academy in Sweden have discovered a link between a gene called TWIST1, which causes the Saethre-Chotzen syndrome, and hereditary breast cancer.

"Our findings show that women with this syndrome run a nearly twenty times greater risk of contracting breast cancer than expected. Moreover, many of the women were young when they were affected by breast cancer," says Göran Stenman.

The researchers thus recommend early and regular mammograms for young women with the Saethre-Chotzen syndrome, a rare congenital syndrome characterized by malformations of the skull, face, hands and feet.

Source: Science Daily