| Summary: | Heritable mutations in <i>BRCA1</i> and <i>BRCA2</i> genes are a major risk factor for breast and ovarian cancer. Inherited mutations in <i>BRCA1</i> increase the risk of developing breast cancers by up to 72% and ovarian cancers by up to 69%, when compared to individuals with wild-type <i>BRCA1</i>. <i>BRCA1</i> and <i>BRCA2</i> (<i>BRCA1/2</i>) are both important for homologous recombination-mediated DNA repair. The link between <i>BRCA1/2</i> mutations and high susceptibility to breast cancer is well established. However, the potential impact of <i>BRCA1</i> mutation on the individual cell populations within a tumor microenvironment, and its relation to increased aggressiveness of cancer is not well understood. The objective of this review is to provide significant insights into the mechanisms by which <i>BRCA1</i> mutations contribute to the metastatic and aggressive nature of the tumor cells.
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