International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Scientists claim to have identified a gene linked to over 50 per cent of all breast cancers, it has been reported.

According to research published in the journal Oncogene, researchers at the University of Cambridge, UK, found a gene called NRG1 (neuregulin-1) which does not protect against regular cells becoming cancerous in the breasts.

Lead researcher Dr Paul Edwards, who discovered the gene, said: "In the immediate future, the main importance of this discovery is that losing neuregulin-1 is a very important part of becoming a cancer cell, and this should tell us a lot about how cancer works."

Dr Edwards added that p53 is the only other gene known to be so often altered in cancer.

"Neuregulin-1, like p53, is lost from cancers and it isn't easy to put something back that's broken, so it will take time and cunning to develop new treatments based on this discovery. But it might be possible in time," he added.

According to Breast Cancer Care, approximately 46,000 people are diagnosed with the illness in the UK each year.

Other than lung cancer, it is the most common cause of cancer-related death in the UK.