It remains unknown if inherited germline mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer by elevating mutation rate in mammary cells. Here we show, using a single-cell whole genome sequencing approach, that mammary luminal epithelial cells isolated from tissues obtained from preventive mastectomy surgeries in women with a pathogenic BRCA1/2 germline mutation, exhibit a statistically significant, increased mutation frequency as compared to age-matched controls without genetic risk of breast cancer.

Genome Instability in Mammary Cells of Pathogenic BRCA1/2 Mutation    Carriers

Breast study with WGA, WGS data on dbGaP (16 participants)