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In Reply

Herlev Hospital, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark

We thank Drs Lee and Ang for their comments on our recent meta-analysis, where we tested the association of CHEK2*1100delC heterozygosity and risk of breast cancer among women of Northern- and Eastern European descent.¹ Apart from those studies included in our meta-analysis, the frequency has been determined in 17 other studies (Table 1).^2-18 Studies in Asian patients with breast cancer have not reported any CHEK2*1100delC carriers, and thus no association between the variant and risk of breast cancer has been established, as pointed out by Drs Lee and Ang. The CHEK2*1100delC carrier frequencies vary between 0% and 1% among patients with breast cancer from these studies, with the highest prevalence in Russian patients.⁷ The absence or rarity of the CHEK2*1100delC heterozygosity among patients with breast cancer in these populations underlines the importance of considering ethnic background before offering a genetic test. We agree with Drs Lee and Ang that indeed, genetic testing for CHEK2*1100delC is only warranted in women of Northern and Eastern European descent. In these women CHEK2*1100delC heterozygosity is an important breast cancer risk factor, a predictor of adverse prognosis, and of poorer survival.^1,19 In the relevant populations, CHEK2*1100delC genotyping should therefore be offered to all women with familial history of breast cancer and to women with breast cancer.

The author(s) indicated no potential conflicts of interest.

REFERENCES

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Related Correspondence

• CHEK2*1100delC Screening of Asian Women With a Family History of Breast Cancer Is Unwarranted
  Ann S.G. Lee and Peter Ang
  JCO 2008 26: 2419 [Full Text]

This Article Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a colleague Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Save to my personal folders Download to citation manager Rights & Permissions Google Scholar Articles by Weischer, M. Articles by Nordestgaard, B. G. PubMed Articles by Weischer, M. Articles by Nordestgaard, B. G. Related Articles Related Correspondence