AM - Scientists discover further breast cancer genes

" A study led by Australian scientists has identified four genes that may increase the risk of women developing breast cancer.

Scientists say it's too early to screen women for the genes but they hope that this latest finding will take them further down the track to determine what role genetics play in causing cancer.

Gavin Fang reports.

GAVIN FANG: The findings of the study are published today in the international science journal Nature.

Professor Graham Giles, from Melbourne's Cancer Epidemiology Centre, was a co-author.

GRAHAM GILES: The important thing about these genes is that they're not like the ones we already know about, like BRCA1 and 2, which are very rarely mutated but when they do they give a phenomenally high risk of breast cancer, these genes only increase breast cancer risk by a small amount. What people are carrying are minute alterations or variations in these genes. "