scholarly journals BRCA Mutations and Breast Cancer Prevention

Cancers ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 524 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne Kotsopoulos

Women who inherit a deleterious BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation face substantially increased risks of developing breast cancer, which is estimated at 70%. Although annual screening with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and mammography promotes the earlier detection of the disease, the gold standard for the primary prevention of breast cancer remains bilateral mastectomy. In the current paper, I review the evidence regarding the management of healthy BRCA mutation carriers, including key risk factors and protective factors, and also discuss potential chemoprevention options. I also provide an overview of the key findings from the literature published to date, with a focus on data from studies that are well-powered, and preferably prospective in nature.

1998 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 1642-1649 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Robson ◽  
T Gilewski ◽  
B Haas ◽  
D Levin ◽  
P Borgen ◽  
...  

PURPOSE To delineate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of breast cancer that arises in the setting of a germline BRCA mutation and to compare BRCA-associated breast cancers (BABC) with those that arise in women without mutations. PATIENTS AND METHODS We reviewed the clinical records of 91 Ashkenazi Jewish women ascertained during studies of the genetics of early-onset breast cancer. All women underwent testing for the BRCA1 mutations 185delAG and 5382insC. After the discovery of BRCA2, 79 women were also tested for the BRCA2 mutation 6174delT. RESULTS Mutations were identified in 30 women (33%). BABC were less likely to present with stage I disease than cases in women without mutations (27% v 46%), more likely to have axillary nodal involvement (54% v46%), and more likely to have extensive axillary involvement (25% v 17%). These differences were not statistically significant. BABC were significantly more likely to be histologic grade III (100% v 59%, P=.04) and to be estrogen receptor-negative (70% v 34%, P=.04). In the entire cohort, there were no significant differences between BABC and non-BRCA-associated cancers in 5-year relapse-free survival (65% v 69%, P=not significant [NS]), 5-year event-free survival (57% v 68%, P=NS), or 5-year overall survival. However, among cases diagnosed within 2 years of study entry, there was a trend toward shorter event-free survival in BRCA heterozygotes, but not relapse-free survival. Women with germline BRCA mutations were significantly more likely to develop contralateral breast cancer at 5 years (31% v 4%, P=.0007). CONCLUSION BABC present with adverse clinical and histopathologic features when compared with cases not associated with BRCA mutations. However, the prognosis of BABC appears to be similar to that of nonassociated cancer. Further studies of incident cases are necessary to define the independent prognostic significance of germline BRCA mutations.


2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 1585-1585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roohi Ismail-Khan ◽  
Monique Sajjad ◽  
Weihong Sun ◽  
Hatem Hussein Soliman ◽  
Hyo S. Han ◽  
...  

1585 Background: Anthracycline related cardiac toxicity (CT) is a concern in treating women with breast cancer. The prevalence of heart failure (HF) affects 2% of the population, less so in women. Patients receiving anthracycline based therapy (ABT) have a dose-dependent risk of reduction in ejection fraction. Recent work by Dr. Verma suggests that BRCA-deficient mice manifest increased levels of cardiac failure. We sought to explore the risk for CT and evaluate the association between ABT and HF in female BRCA mutation carriers. Methods: An online survey was developed to collect information about breast cancer treatment (including HF) in BRCA mutation carriers through the national BRCA patient advocacy organization FORCE via their 2011 conference and their website as well as the Moffitt-based Inherited Cancer Registry (ICARE). The prevalence of CT and HF was calculated in both BRCA 1 and 2 breast cancer patients and compared to general population risks. Data from those that received ABT was compared to published HF rates from ABT. Results: Our sample included 227 BRCA1 carriers and 164 BRCA2 carriers in whom 6.4% reported cardiac toxicity (i.e., either HF and/or CT). This included similar proportions in BRCA1 vs BRCA2 carriers (i.e., 6.6% and 6.1%, respectively). These proportions are significantly higher than the published rate of 2% (all p-values < 0.001). Specifically regarding ABT, 112 mutation carriers had doxorubicin (Adriamycin) for treatment of whom 8% reported HF, similar to the 11 who had Epirubicin (11 patients), of whom 9% reported HF. Conclusions: Our data suggests that BRCA mutation carriers may have an increased risk of CT compared to the general population. In particular, women with BRCA mutations treated with ABT also appear to have a higher risk of developing CT and/or HF. This exploratory study provides the basis upon which larger retrospective and prospective studies are currently being planned. The high percentage of CT observed in this study requires confirmation as they could inform recommendation for cardiac screening and review of the current standard for ABT use in this population.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan Wheelden ◽  
Leah Cream ◽  
Jeffrey Sivik ◽  
Mark Robson

Olaparib was first FDA approved for use in women with advanced ovarian cancer and germline BRCA mutations. Based on the results of subsequent research, the use of this drug has been expanded to patients with metastatic breast cancer with germline BRCA mutation. With the use of a relatively new medication and a larger patient population eligible for therapy, monitoring for novel adverse events associated with therapy is important. This case represents a patient with metastatic breast cancer and germline BRCA2 mutation who developed erythema nodosum after initiation of therapy with olaparib capsules. Her characteristic rash appeared shortly after starting olaparib and recurred after restarting olaparib an additional two times. She was treated with short courses of prednisone therapy with or without holding olaparib with resolution of her rash. The patient was later restarted on olaparib capsules 200 mg twice daily, and she more recently has been maintained on olaparib tablets 300 mg twice daily. On both regimens, the patient experienced only attenuated episodes of erythema nodosum that have not required cessation of therapy or steroid therapy.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Nemati Shafaee ◽  
Kristina Goutsouliak ◽  
Heather Lin ◽  
Therese B Bevers ◽  
Angelica Gutierrez-Barrera ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Deleterious BRCA mutations confer a significant lifetime risk of breast cancer (BC) as well as contralateral BC (CBC) in patients who do not undergo prophylactic mastectomy. Prior reports have suggested that tamoxifen reduces the risk of CBC in BRCA mutation carriers. Whether aromatase inhibitors (AI) have the same effect is unknown. Methods: This is a retrospective review of patients diagnosed with non-metastatic ER+ BC between 2004-2014 with known BRCA mutation status. Patients were followed from primary diagnosis until CBC diagnosis or death. Median follow up was 11.5 years. Risk of CBC was evaluated as time to event. Results: 935 subjects were included in this analysis, with 53 BRCA1 mutation carriers, and 94 BRCA2 mutation carriers. Median age at diagnosis was 42.7 years. Seventy-two percent (676) received tamoxifen and 43% (405) received AI. A total of 66 CBCs occurred, of which 10% (15/147) occurred in BRCA mutation carriers vs %6.5 (51/788) in BRCA wild type. Multivariate analyses indicated that BRCA status and AI use were significantly associated with CBC risk. AI use resulted in a significant reduction in risk of CBC (HR 0.44, p=0.004) regardless of the BRCA mutation status. Tamoxifen use was not associated with reduced risk of CBC. Conclusions: This is the first report showing that AIs reduce the risk of CBC in BRCA mutation carriers. The potential role of AIs as chemoprevention should be validated in larger independent cohorts.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 10548-10548
Author(s):  
Tamar Perri ◽  
Shani Naor-Ravel ◽  
Perry Eliassi-Revivo ◽  
Dror Lifshitz ◽  
Eitan Friedman ◽  
...  

10548 Background: Uncertainty exists with regard to the role of bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy in altering the risk of breast cancer in BRCA-mutation carriers. Methods: Included were 1645 healthy Jewish Israeli BRCA1/2 -mutation carriers from a single center without prophylactic mastectomy. Carriers with and without risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (RRBSO) were matched according to BRCA-mutation type (BRCA1 vs. BRCA2) and year of birth (±1 year). Hormonal and reproductive variables were compared and incidence of breast cancer recorded. Association between RRBSO and breast cancer was studied. Results: Seventy-seven and 50 matched-pairs had BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation respectively. Fifty-two carriers had breast cancer, 21 in RRBSO-group and 31 in no- RRBSO group, with no statistically significant difference. When analysing each mutation group separately, stratified by age at surgery, no association between RRBSO and breast cancer incidence was found among BRCA1-mutation carriers. However, in BRCA2 mutation carriers, RRBSO was associated with a statistically significant decreased overall incidence of breast cancer, HR = 0.2 (confidence interval 0.44-0.913, p = 0.038). Breast cancer incidence was lower after 5, 10,15 and 20 years in BRCA2-mutation carriers with RRBSO compared to no-RRBSO. Age at menarche, age at surgery, parity and oral contraceptive use were not significant risk factors for breast cancer. Hormone replacement therapy was used by 62 mutation carriers, 52 in the RRBSO group and 10 in the no-RRBSO group, and its use did not alter breast cancer risk (p = 0.463). Conclusions: According to our findings, RRBSO is associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer only in BRCA2 mutation carriers, regardless of HRT use.


2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 10014-10014 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Bigenwald ◽  
E. Warner ◽  
A. Gunasekara ◽  
K. Hill ◽  
P. Causer ◽  
...  

10014 Background: Several large observational studies have demonstrated that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is much more sensitive than M (sensitivity 71–96% vs. 28–43%) for screening women > age 25 at high risk for hereditary breast cancer. However, MRI is much more costly and less specific than M. The extent to which the low sensitivity of M in these studies is due to the greater average breast density of younger women is unknown. Accordingly, we sought to determine the sensitivity of M and MRI according to breast density for the detection of breast cancer in a screening study of BRCA mutation carriers. Methods: Breast density was measured on the screening mammogram of the contralateral breast for all women who developed in-situ or invasive breast cancer on study. Density was measured in 2 ways: qualitatively according to the four categories characterized by the BIRADS system: 1) mostly fatty, 2) scattered fibroglandular tissue, 3) heterogeneously dense, 4) extremely dense; and semi-quantitatively using computer-aided techniques with subsequent classification as: A) ≤10%, B) 11–25%, C) 26%-50%, or D) >50% density. Results: Between 11/97 and 06/05 a total of 39 cases (12 in-situ and 27 invasive) were found in 36 mutation carriers (19 BRCA1 and 17 BRCA2). Mean age of the women with cancer was 48 (range 34 to 64). Average semi-quantitative breast density for BRCA1 mutation carriers was 28% and for BRCA2 was 27%. Sensitivity of M vs. MRI for in-situ cases was 25% vs. 83%, and for invasive cases was 30% vs. 93%. Sensitivities for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers were similar. For BIRADS 1 to 4 respectively M detected 1/3 (33%), 5/11 (45%), 4/22 (18%), and 1/3 (33%) of cases; and for density groups A to D respectively detected 2/6 (33%), 7/15 (47%), 1/11 (9%) and, 1/7 (14%). Conclusion: Although there was a trend towards decreasing mammographic sensitivity with increasing density, even among BRCA mutation carriers with low breast density mammography is an inadequate screening tool. No significant financial relationships to disclose.


2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 1512-1512
Author(s):  
R. K. Schmutzler ◽  
M. K. Graeser ◽  
K. Rhiem ◽  
B. Schlehe ◽  
W. Hofmann ◽  
...  

1512 Background: BRCA mutation carriers affected by breast cancer face an elevated risk of contralateral breast cancer (clBrCa). We here aimed at estimating the influence of breast conserving therapy (BCT) versus mastectomy (MXT) on the rik of clBrCa. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study in 3810 index patients (pts) collected within the CHBOC. Deleterious BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations were detected in 921 pts and medical records were obtained from 532 pts (344 BRCA1, 184 BRCA2 mutation carriers, 4 both) of whom 261 (49%) underwent BCT and 271 (51%) MXT. Pts were followed from the initial diagnosis of breast cancer until clBrCa or censored at time of prophylactic contralateral mastectomy, oophorectomy, death, or date of last visit. Median age at first diagnosis was 39.9 years (range 17.5 to 79.0) and median follow up 48.84 months (3413 person years). The hazard ratio (HR) was estimated using multivariate Cox regression analysis adjusting for conduct of radiotherapy, age at first breast cancer, and affected BRCA gene. Results: In the univariate analysis the risk of clBrCa was 12.2% (95% CI 7.6 to 16.8) at 5 years and 24.9% (95% CI 18.0 to 31.9) at 10 years for pts treated with MXT and 25.9% (95% CI 18.8 to 33.1) at 5 years and 45.7% (95% CI 35.0 to 56.5) at 10 years for pts treated with BCT. In the multivariate analysis, the HR was 1.8 for BCT versus MXT (95% CI 1.2 to 2.7). Neither age at diagnosis of the first primary nor BRCA mutation status were significantly predictive. A subgroup analysis comparing BCT plus radiotherapy with MXT minus radiotherapy revealed a HR of 1.6 (95% CI 1.02 to 2.56) for the BCT group. Conclusions: We report for the first time a 1.8-fold increased risk of clBrCa in BRCA mutation carriers undergoing BCT versus MXT. Scattered radiation is the most probable causation. Although results from further studies such as the WECARE study should be awaited, our results provide evidence that recommendations for primary brCa treatment of BRCA mutation carriers must to be reconsidered. No significant financial relationships to disclose.


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