The etiology and prediction of breast cancer. Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy reveals progressive alterations in breast DNA leading to a cancer-like phenotype in a high proportion of normal women

Abstract

Progressive structural changes in the DNA of the normal female breast, leading to a premalignant cancer-like phenotype in a high proportion of women, are the basis for a new paradigm for understanding the etiology of breast cancer and predicting its occurrence at early stages of oncogenesis. The results also suggest therapeutic strategies for potentially reversing the extent of DNA damage, which may be useful in disease prevention and treatment.