Mutations in the PALB2 gene can disrupt its interaction with BRCA2 and other proteins involved in the homologous recombination repair pathway. This disruption can lead to the accumulation of genetic errors and chromosomal instability, which are hallmarks of cancer. Studies have shown that individuals with PALB2 mutations have a significantly higher risk of developing breast cancer, and to a lesser extent, pancreatic cancer and ovarian cancer.
