Angelina Jolie gene

• Jolie gene

After American actress Angelina Jolie, who had the gene mutation and chose to undergo a preventative double mastectomy and removal of the ovaries.

Angelina Jolie gene (plural Angelina Jolie genes)

1. (informal) The BRCA1 gene, in which mutations may lead to certain cancers.
   • 2013 May 20, Sophie Borland, “Briton has his prostate removed to beat cancer risk from ‘Jolie gene’”, in Daily Mail, page 20:

     [Headline] Briton has his prostate removed to beat cancer risk from 'Jolie gene'

   • 2016 March 7, “New Data on ‘Angelina Jolie Gene’”, in Surgical Products, Advantage Business Media:

     Scientists from the Cancer Therapy & Research Center (CTRC) in San Antonio published work that provides deeper insight into how the Angelina Jolie gene, BRCA1, functions in normal breast tissue and how its loss results in breast cancer.

   • 2022 March 17, Laura Pearson, “Opinion: I’m BRCA positive – we need to stop calling it the ‘Angelina Jolie gene’”, in The Independent:

     And yet, it does grate on me when there’s a news story about BRCA and it’s called “the Angelina Jolie gene”, because it just contributes to people not knowing the real name for it.
     It’s lazy, and it’s inaccurate, too. BRCA1 and BRCA2 aren’t genes you have or don’t have. Everyone has the gene.

   • 2025 October 17, “Checks for men with 'Jolie gene'”, in Daily Mail, page 21:

     MEN with the 'Angelina Jolie gene' should be given annual prostate cancer checks in a bid to find early signs of the disease, leading scientists say.
     Institute of Cancer Research experts said men with BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations were at such high risk they would benefit from screening.