B.R.C.A.

¹

abbreviation

1. Brotherhood of Railway Carmen of America.

BRCA

²

noun

1. either of two genes BRCA1 or BRCA2 that, if inherited in a mutated form, may predispose some carriers to develop breast or ovarian cancer.

BRCA

1. One of two genes (designated BRCA1 and BRCA2) that help repair damage to DNA, but when inherited in a defective state increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

Word History and Origins

Origin of B.R.C.A.¹

1900–95; initialism from br(east) and ca(ncer)