BRCA Mutation Patients: Are There Other Predisposing Factors for Ovarian Cancer Occurrence? A Multicenter Retrospective Study

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this multicenter retrospective study aimed to evaluate the association of clinical variables and the incidence of ovarian cancer in patients with BRCA 1-2 mutation carriers who underwent risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy. Design: Patients with a pathogenic mutation of BRCA 1-2 genes and with no evidence of disease are considered eligible. The exclusion criterion was the refusal to undergo the surgery. The retrospective study included all risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) performed from May 2015 to April 2022 in the three gynecological Institutions of Southern Italy for were included in this retrospective study. Participants/Materials, Setting, Methods: Age, menarche age, BMI, menopause at time of RRSO, breast cancer first and second-degree relatives, ovarian cancer first and second-degree relatives, estroprogestin use, pregnancy normal full-term delivery, history of endometriosis, previous breast cancer and histologic type, previous abdominal/pelvic surgery, BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 status, pre-operative serum CA-125 levels (IU/ml), age at time of RRSO and histological analysis were collected. Results: 184 were recruited. One was excluded. To assess cancer risk, the outcome variable was classified into three classes: no event, cancer and other conditions excluding cancer. 14 women presented ovarian cancer and tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC) on histopathologic final report. Ovarian cancer was found in 8 patients, whereas the presence of STIC was found in 6 of them. Limitations The low incidence of patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer or STIC compared with the total number of patients undergoing RRSO is a potential bias. Conclusions: Our study did not demonstrate a correlation between clinical features and the occurrence of precancerous or cancerous lesions in BRCA mutation carrier patients.