BRCA2 gene

Definition: a tumor suppressor gene identified in 1995 on chromosome 13 at locus 13q12–q13; a large gene consisting of 27 exons distributed over 70 kb, encoding a protein of 3,418 amino acids. Carriers of germline mutations in BRCA2 have an increased risk, similar to that of those with BRCA1 mutations, of developing breast cancer and a moderately increased risk of ovarian cancer. BRCA2 families also exhibit an increased incidence of male breast, pancreatic, prostate, laryngeal, and ocular cancers.

See Also: BRCA1 gene, carcinoma of the breast

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