Inherited mutations in cancer susceptibility genes are common among survivors of breast cancer who develop therapy-related leukemia.

Background: Risk factors for the development of therapy-related leukemia (TRL), an often lethal late complication of cytotoxic therapy, remain poorly understood and may differ for survivors of different malignancies. Survivors of breast cancer (BC) now account for the majority of TRL cases, making the study of TRL risk factors in this population a priority.

Methods: Subjects with TRL after cytotoxic therapy for a primary BC were identified from the TRL registry at The University of Chicago.