REVIEW article
Oncol. Rev.
Sec. Oncology Reviews: Reviews
Volume 19 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/or.2025.1633387
A Comprehensive Framework for the Management of Hereditary Breast Cancers: Guiding Light in Precision Medicine
Provisionally accepted
- 1Public Health Authority (Saudi Arabia), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- 2Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- 3King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- 4Umm Al-Qura University College of Medicine, Mecca, Saudi Arabia
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Background: The landscape of oncology varies across countries and regions, and in consanguineous populations such as Saudi Arabia, the clinical management of hereditary cancers poses a distinct challenge. Hereditary breast cancer (HBC), which is a significant public health concern, accounts for approximately 5%–10% of all breast cancer cases. High-risk genes, including BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2, TP53 and PTEN, with germline pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants (PVs/LPVs), substantially increase the risk of breast cancer and other malignancies. Method: In this review, we explore the guidelines and the literature to present a comprehensive investigation of the genetic landscape of hereditary cancer syndromes, provide pivotal insights into disease mechanisms and inform precise clinical intervention. Given their marked therapeutic heterogeneity, a tailored precision medicine approach, rather than a uniform strategy of a one-size-fits-all model, is necessary. For high-risk breast cancer patients in Saudi Arabia, the detection rates of PVs/LPVs have reached 24%, underscoring the relevance of targeted interventions. Results: A comprehensive framework for the management of HBCs is outlined, which focuses on consanguineous populations and adapts global guidelines. We highlight the critical roles of genetic testing in guiding personalised surveillance strategies, especially for regions where data remain limited. Conclusion: Revealing the genetic variation associated with HBCs mitigates the burden on healthcare providers and the long-term effects of HBCs on affected individuals and their families. Moreover, it is a step ahead towards personalised prevention, treatment and intervention. This knowledge will empower research and innovation in biotechnology.
Keywords: precision medicine, hereditary breast cancer, HBc, Genetic Testing, Saudi Arabia, cancer prevention
Received: 22 May 2025; Accepted: 18 Aug 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Aleissa and Ekram. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Mariam Aleissa, Public Health Authority (Saudi Arabia), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Samar Ekram, Umm Al-Qura University College of Medicine, Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.