A breast cancer discovery by Australian scientists has sparked hope of preventative treatment in the future.
About 70 per cent of women who carry the faulty BRCA2 gene develop the disease and researchers have now identified which cells are likely to grow into tumours.
They also found existing cancer drugs can delay a tumour's growth in a laboratory by targeting certain parts of a cell's protein production.
The study was led by Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne and published in peer-reviewed journal Nature Cell Biology.
Many women with the faulty gene develop cancer at a young age in an aggressive form, with some choosing to have preventative breast surgery to reduce their risk.
Study author Professor Geoff Lindeman said more work needed to be done and the team would focus on protein processing and developing preventative treatments without side effects.
"There's still a way to go, but we're a big step closer," he said.
"We hope that our new findings will now inform future treatment and prevention for women with a faulty BRCA2 gene."
The team previously made similar findings about cells in the BRCA1 gene, which were then used in an international prevention study.
Actress Angelina Jolie carries the BRCA1 gene and had preventative surgery a decade ago to reduce her risk after her mother died of breast cancer.
