Proto-oncogenes allow for cells to divide, but when a mutation occurs they cause cells to grow and proliferate uncontrollably. Mutations in proto-oncogenes are usually dominant, ultimately causing cancer. Generally, mutations do not only occur in proto-oncogenes they also occur in tumor suppressors. Mutations in tumor suppressors cause them to become absent in cancerous tissue when compared to non-cancerous tissue. Mutations in tumor suppressors are homozygous. Most oncogenes increase gene expression by generating aberrant changes in signal transduction pathways. Micro-RNAs are short non-coding RNAs that negatively regulate gene expression. Research has shown that miRNAs can be potent tumor suppressors. MicroRNAs are deregulated in numerous kinds of disease, including breast cancer. Since, miRNAs are abnormally expressed in malignant tissue, miRNAs provide a suitable entry point to explore its functional role in cancer progression.
Results showed that miRNA-96 when over-expressed in cancer cell lines, decreased the expression of the ABCE1 gene. The research team wanted to determine whether other oncogenes were regulated by miRNA-96, resulting in an additive effect on breast cancer aggressiveness. In other words, does the presence of miRNA-96, target other genes causing resulting in an additive effect on breast cancer aggressiveness. The research team identified one such gene, LCP1. The scientist wanted to unveil if the dual inhibition of the ABCE1 and LCP1 by microRNA-96 results in an additive effect in breast cancer. In order to determine if mir-96 had dual specificity they evaluated LCP1 as a miR-96 target.
Which scenario best describes the genotype of a woman that has the highest probability of being diagnosed with breast cancer?