Date Range: 2026 (1) Spring

ICARE Newsletter Spring 2026

HOXB13 and Prostate Cancer

In a recently published study based on the VA’s Million Veteran Program, men with the HOXB13 p.G84E variant (the common variant in European populations, upon which much of the data is based) had a higher risk of prostate cancer, a slightly earlier age at diagnosis, and did not tend to develop more aggressive disease. Crawford, …

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Permanent link to this article: https://inheritedcancer.net/nfs20266/

ICARE Newsletter Spring 2026

Introducing the NCCN Guidelines Navigator™

Explore this new interactive, color-coded platform designed to simplify navigation of NCCN’s Genetics/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Breast, Ovarian, Pancreatic, and Prostate cancer guidelines. Whether you’re a clinician, researcher, or advocate, this tool helps you stay informed and make confident decisions in cancer care. To read more, create a FREE account at: https://www.nccn.org/guidelines/nccn-guidelines-navigator

Permanent link to this article: https://inheritedcancer.net/nls20262/

ICARE Newsletter Spring 2026

Consideration of Inherited Cancer Risk on a Continuum

Historically, heritable cancer risk was generally considered binary, based on the presence or absence of a germline pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant (GPV) in a known inherited cancer susceptibility gene (CSG). However, it has become clear that risk is more complex and presents on a continuum based on specific GPVs, in conjunction with interactions with …

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Permanent link to this article: https://inheritedcancer.net/nfs20265/

ICARE Newsletter Spring 2026

Genomics of Breast Cancers Among BRCA1/2, PALB2, CHEK2, and ATM Carriers

We recently published a study which included information from over 200 BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2, CHEK2 and ATM carriers in ICARE who had breast cancer (mostly early-stage) combined with data from over 200 carriers (predominantly with metastatic breast cancer) who had clinical tumor testing. We pursued this research because we believe that distinct genomic changes in …

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Permanent link to this article: https://inheritedcancer.net/nfs202613/

ICARE Newsletter Spring 2026

New Gene Alert: SMARCAL1

A new study found the SMARCAL1 gene predisposes to a specific type of bone cancer (osteosarcoma) in children and young adults. Oak, et al. J Clin Oncol. 2025;43(36):3833-3843. PMID: 41066719. Article available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41066719/. Social media post available at: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1GZ2GdNU69/

Permanent link to this article: https://inheritedcancer.net/nfs20268/

ICARE Newsletter Spring 2026

BRCA1/2: Preventive Mastectomy vs. Screening

A new study shows similar rates of death from breast cancer when comparing 460 women who had a mastectomy with 745 women who chose surveillance (screening). For women choosing surveillance, these results are reassuring that survival is not likely to be compromised. Keep in mind, the goal of surveillance is to detect cancer early if …

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Permanent link to this article: https://inheritedcancer.net/nfs202610/

ICARE Newsletter Spring 2026

BRCA1/2: Preventive Bilateral Mastectomy Can Save Lives

A new study that combined the results of prior studies (through a systematic review/meta-analysis) including a total of over 6,000 BRCA1/2 carriers showed that preventive bilateral mastectomy lowered overall deaths as well as deaths from breast cancer, compared to not having this done. This information is important as women with BRCA1/2 mutations are deciding on …

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Permanent link to this article: https://inheritedcancer.net/nfs20269/

ICARE Newsletter Spring 2026

National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guideline Update Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Breast, Ovarian, Pancreatic, & Prostate

Select updates are outlined below. Check out the full guidelines by creating a FREE account at: https://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/genetics_bopp.pdf Version 2.2026 focused on adding comprehensive prostate cancer information and revising the name of the guidelines to encompass prostate cancer. Updates included: Version 3.2026 encompassed updates to the discussion section.

Permanent link to this article: https://inheritedcancer.net/nfs20263/

ICARE Newsletter Spring 2026

BRCA Carriers: High Risk for Ovarian Cancer After Breast Cancer Diagnosis

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. The risk of ovarian/fallopian tube cancer at …

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Permanent link to this article: https://inheritedcancer.net/nfs20264/

ICARE Newsletter Spring 2026

How Does Family History of Breast Cancers Affect Risk?

In a new study of almost 70,000 women, including those with hereditary forms of breast cancer, breast cancer risk was higher in those with a family history of breast cancer. Interestingly, family history raised breast cancer risks the least in BRCA1 carriers and the most in PALB2 carriers. Additionally, the effect of other risk factors …

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Permanent link to this article: https://inheritedcancer.net/nfs20267/

ICARE Newsletter Spring 2026

NCCN Guidelines Insights Article

JNCCN released an article in the February issue with insights on: Prostate cancer screening: Pancreatic cancer screening: Testing for non-epithelial ovarian cancer: Cheng, et al. J Natl Compr Cancer Netw. 2026:24(2):2-10. PMID: 41671423.Article available at: https://jnccn.org/view/journals/jnccn/24/2/article-p2.xml. Social media post available at: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Rk6tvn2AB/

Permanent link to this article: https://inheritedcancer.net/nls20261/

ICARE Newsletter Spring 2026

BRCA1/2: PARP Inhibitors

According to a new study, 50% of men in the U.S. with BRCA1/2 and metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer receive PARP inhibitor treatment.1 This study also found that PARP inhibitor treatment differed by insurance coverage, with PARP inhibitors among commercially insured LESS LIKELY than those covered by government-issued insurance. Similarly, a U.S.-based study of adults with …

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Permanent link to this article: https://inheritedcancer.net/nfs202612/

ICARE Newsletter Spring 2026

Ask the Expert

The following question was addressed by Joanne Kotsopoulos, PhD, who is a scientist at Women’s College Hospital in Toronto, Canada, with a longstanding interest in researching hormonal and other risk factors among those with inherited forms of breast cancer.   Q:What is the latest information about risks of taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in BRCA1/2 …

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Permanent link to this article: https://inheritedcancer.net/nfs202612-2/