Breast Cancer; Research reports on breast cancer from University of Pennsylvania, Medical Department provide new insights
3 March 2008
© Copyright 2008 OBGYN & Reproduction Week via NewsRx.com
2008 MAR 3 - (NewsRx.com) -- According to a study from the United States, "Women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 (BRCA1/2) mutations can reduce cancer incidence and mortality by using bilateral prophylactic oophorectomy (BPO) or bilateral prophylactic mastectomy (BPM) (see also Breast Cancer). The availability of these risk-reduction strategies is an important consideration in the decision to undergo genetic testing."
"We evaluated the use of BPO and BPM in a prospective sample of 537 female BRCA1/2 mutation carriers from 17 centers in North America and Europe. These women were aged > 30 years, had no BPM, BPO, breast cancer, or ovarian cancer before the disclosure of their genetic test results and were followed for > 6 months. Bilateral prophylactic oophorectomy is used significantly more frequently than BPM (55% vs. 21%; P< .001). Bilateral prophylactic oophorectomy was more common among women age >= 40 years compared with women aged < 40 years (68% vs. 43%; P< .001) and among porous women compared with nulliparous women (60% vs. 39%; P< .001). There was no difference in BPM (P = .83) or BPO (P = .09) in BRCA1 versus BRCA2 carriers. Multivariate models identified age and parity as a predictor of BPO in BRCA1 carriers; age and ovarian cancer family history in BRCA2 carriers; parity and ovarian cancer family history as a predictor of BPM in BRCA1 carriers; and smoking and ovarian cancer family history in BRCA2 carriers. Bilateral prophylactic oophorectomy is more commonly used than BPM in unaffected BRCA1/2 mutation carriers. Parity, age, and family history can also influence BPO and BPM uptake," wrote T.M. Friebel and colleagues, University of Pennsylvania, Medical Department.
The researchers concluded: "Consistent with current recommendations, BPO is used by the majority of porous women aged > 40 years.'."
Friebel and colleagues published their study in Clinical Breast Cancer (Bilateral prophylactic oophorectomy and bilateral prophylactic mastectomy in a prospective cohort of unaffected BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers. Clinical Breast Cancer, 2007;7(11):875-882).
For more information, contact T.M. Friebel, University of Pennsylvania, School Medical, Dept. of Biostatistics & Epidemiology, Center Clinic Epidemiology & Biostatistics, 909 Blockley Hall, 423 Guardian Dr., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Publisher contact information for the journal Clinical Breast Cancer is: Cig Media Group, Lp, 3500 Maple Avenue, Ste. 750, Dallas, TX 75219-3931, USA.
This article was prepared by OBGYN & Reproduction Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, OBGYN & Reproduction Week via NewsRx.com.