20 Wednesday January 26 2022 | the times
News
The so-called Angelina Jolie gene that
can increase the risk of breast cancer in
women can also elevate the chances of
men developing prostate and pancreat-
ic cancer, a study shows.
Faulty versions of the BRCA1 and
BRCA2 genes, which help cells to grow
normally, have long been known to
increase the likelihood of breast and
ovarian cancer. Jolie, the Hollywood
actress, revealed in 2013 that she had
undergone a double mastectomy and
had her ovaries removed because she
carried a BRCA1 mutation.
The research, which looked at more
than 7,500 families that carry faulty
copies of the genes, has strengthened
the association with other forms of the
disease. Men with a BRCA2 mutation
have a 27 per cent risk of developing
prostate cancer by the age of 80 —
more than double that of non-carriers.
Carrying a defective copy of BRCA
or BRCA2 also more than doubled the
risk of developing pancreatic cancer by
the age of 80, to about 3 per cent.
The mutations in BRCA2 were found
to raise the risk of stomach cancer by
nearly three times for men, to about
3 per cent, and nearly seven times for
women, up to the age of 80. Researchers
said that because of the rarity of this
form of cancer, the number of patients
in the study was very small, and more
research was required.
Professor Marc Tischkowitz, of the
‘Jolie gene’ linked
to more cancers
Department of Medical Genetics at
Cambridge University, said: “The
results will add to our knowledge on
optimising cancer screening and early
detection strategies for people who are
known to carry these faulty genes.”
Mutations in both genes increase the
risk of breast cancer in men, though the
disease accounts for less than 1 per cent
of all male cancer cases in the UK. A
BRCA1 mutation increased a man’s risk
of developing breast cancer more than
four-fold to 0.4 per cent by the age of 80.
A BRCA2 mutation increased this risk
by 44 times to 3.8 per cent.
Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of
Cancer Research UK, said cancers
caused by faulty BRCA genes are rela-
tively rare, and other factors such as
age, smoking, diet and other prevent-
able factors contribute to a person’s risk.
The results are published in the
Journal of Clinical Oncology.Rhys Blakely Science Correspondent
A
dying teenager
has given all
his savings to a
six-year-old
fellow cancer
sufferer he has never met
and raised a further£35,000 for him (Will
Humphries writes).
Rhys Langford, 19, is
severely ill with
osteosarcoma, a cancer
that starts in the bones,
but over time has spread
to other parts of his body.
After he read about
Jacob Jones, a boy who is
also from Ebbw Vale, in
south Wales, he decided
to donate all his savings
to help him. Jacob had
already gone through
treatment forneuroblastoma, a
malignant tumour, but
doctors said that it was
back and incurable.
Langford, who worked
as a labourer for a water
supplier before falling ill,
has also set up Go Fund
Me page that has since
gone viral and raised
more than £44,000 for
Jacob and his family.
Langford said: “I am so
overwhelmed with the
reaction of the public and
never expected it to take
off like it has.”
Catherine, 38, his
mother, said she could
not believe that her son
was “thinking about
someone else when he’s
on death’s door himself.
Although our hearts are
breaking because our son
is dying, at the same time
they are bursting with
pride.”
Alwyn Jones, Jacob’s
father, said that words
could not express their
gratitude. “He has said
that he cannot be
saved so he wanted to
help save Jacob. What
a wonderful, kind,
compassionate young
man.”Fatally ill
teenager
gives savings
to stranger
Rhys Langford, 19, gave
away his entire savings to
support the treatment of
Jacob Jones, six. Langford
has inspired more than
£35,000 of donationsMEDIA WALES6 Death rates from ovarian cancer in
the UK will be 17 per cent lower this
year than in 2017, researchers said, in a
trend driven by use of the contraceptive
pill. Research published today in the
cancer journal Annals of Oncology said
that rates in EU countries would fall by
7 per cent. Professor Carlo La Vecchia,
of the University of Milan, who led the
study, said long-term use of oral contra-
ceptives cut the risk of ovarian cancer
by 40 per cent in middle-aged and older
women. “The earlier and greater use of
oral contraceptives has a major role in
these trends,” he said.