Christine Walsh, MD
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Genetic Modifiers of BRCA1-Associated Gynecologic Cancer Penetrance
Women who inherit a mutation in the BRCA1 gene have a 40% risk of developing ovarian, tubal, or peritoneal cancer. Dr. Walsh is seeking to shed light on genetic and molecular events that lead to tumor development in some women in this high-risk population but not in others. A significant difference in the genetic sequence of the PARK2 gene distinguishes BRCA1 mutation carriers that do develop cancer from those who do not develop cancer. This project will further investigate PARK2, which is mutated in other cancers and has a tumor suppressor function, by looking at its role in the biology of BRCA1-associated gynecologic cancer development.