Molecular contribution of BRCA1 and BRCA2 to genome instability in breast cancer patients: review of radiosensitivity assays.

Background: DNA repair pathways, cell cycle arrest checkpoints, and cell death induction are present in cells to process DNA damage and prevent genomic instability caused by various extrinsic and intrinsic ionizing factors. Mutations in the genes involved in these pathways enhances the ionizing radiation sensitivity, reduces the individual's capacity to repair DNA damages, and subsequently increases susceptibility to tumorigenesis.

Body: BRCA1 and BRCA2 are two highly penetrant genes involved in the inherited breast cancer and contribute to different DNA damage pathways and cell cycle and apoptosis cascades.