Improved survival in BRCA2 carriers with ovarian cancer

Abstract

Objectives-The objective of this study was to investigate survival of ovarian cancer patients with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations compared to those without mutations in a population-based sample of incident epithelial ovarian cancer cases. NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript the two analyses were similar, thus data involving the 209 invasive epithelial cancer cases are presented, as this was judged to be more clinically relevant. NIH Public AccessResults-In the multivariate analysis, BRCA status and stage were statistically significant, and were adjusted for in the survival analysis model. The Kaplan-Meier method estimated expected survival at 4 years of 83% of BRCA2 carriers compared to 37% of BRCA1 carriers and 12% of non-carriers. There was a statistically significant difference between BRCA2 carriers and noncarriers (p = 0.013). No statistically significant survival differences were seen for BRCA1 carriers when compared with either BRCA2 carriers or non-carriers.Conclusion-These data suggest that BRCA2 mutation carriers with ovarian cancer may have better survival than BRCA1 carriers and non-carriers. The etiology of this possible survival advantage is currently unknown. Larger studies are needed to confirm these results and to clarify their etiology and clinical significance.

Incidence and mortality in epithelial ovarian cancer by family history of any cancer

“…BRCA1/2 or mismatch repair gene mutations are an unlikely explanation, because these defects are associated with favorable survival. [20][21][22] The data are also clinically relevant. Sibling risks for serous and endometrioid cancers were 4.30 and 4.74, respectively, which are high in comparison to familial risks of most other cancers.…”

“…The survival in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers and HNPCC patients has been better than that of sporadic patients. [20][21][22] Familial clustering of ovarian cancer with cancers at other, discordant sites has also been reported, particularly involving endometrial and breast cancers. 17,23 The association with endometrial cancer has been strongest with ovarian cancer of endometrioid histology.…”

Cost-effectiveness of population-based BRCA1/2 testing and ovarian cancer prevention for Ashkenazi Jews: A call for dialogue

“…Several reports indicate that BRCA1/2-related ovarian cancers have improved survival, but others do not find this effect. 33 Potential differences in ovarian cancer survival between BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers 34 are not considered in our model. We use the SEER 2004 data, in particular the ovarian cancer survival rates for the year 1994 of diagnosis, which is 38.4%.…”

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of BRCA-associated ovarian cancer (OC): Genotype and survival.

“…Sixty percent to 80% of BRCA1-associated breast cancers are triple-negative or basal-like, while 80% of BRCA2-associated breast cancers are estrogen and progesterone positive, luminal A tumors (16). No specific differences in histological subtypes have been characterized between BRCA1-or 2-associated EOC (5,15,17,18). However, the clinical differences in the presentation of cancers between BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers raises the possibility that additional differences may be present in terms of natural history and overall prognosis.…”

“…Data from a limited number of studies that compare BRCA1-and BRCA2-associated EOC separately with sporadic EOC suggest a trend towards improved outcome in BRCA2 mutation carriers (11,13,15,18). In this study, we therefore asked whether clinical characteristics or outcomes, including event-free survival and overall survival, differed between BRCA1-and BRCA2-associated EOC in a collection of BRCA mutation carriers.…”