A new study of >2,000 BRCA1/2 carriers found 71 cases of ovarian/fallopian tube carcinoma following a breast cancer diagnosis. Of these 71 cases, 66 were among BRCA1 carriers and 5 were among BRCA2 carriers. BRCA1 carriers had a 5-fold higher risk of ovarian cancer compared to BRCA2 carriers.
What was the overall risk in those with versus without a prior breast cancer diagnosis?
- The 15-year cumulative risk of ovarian/fallopian tube cancer was 10.8% in women with a prior history of breast cancer and 25.9% in women without a prior history of breast cancer.
Why is this important?
- Preventive removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes (i.e., preventive surgery) remains strongly recommended for BRCA1/2 mutation carriers with a history of breast cancer.
Learn more at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40784323/
Reference: Apostol et al. 2025:201:44-52. Online ahead of print. PMID: 40784323.