abstract: Clinical characteristics and outcomes of BRCA-associated ovarian cancer: genotype and survival.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of BRCA-associated ovarian cancer: genotype and survival

Cancer Genet. 2012 Jan;205(1-2):34-41


Abstract
Previous studies have suggested that BRCA-related epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) conveys improved survival compared with that of sporadic EOC, but few studies have evaluated differences between BRCA genotypes.

We compared characteristics and outcome by genotype in BRCA-associated EOC. Patients with BRCA-associated EOC who were diagnosed between January 30,1981, and December 30, 2008, were retrospectively identified through institutional review board-approved registry studies. We examined clinical characteristics, including event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS), for BRCA1 versus BRCA2 patients. We identified 197 cases (148 BRCA1 cases; 49 BRCA2 cases); the median follow-up period was 63 months. BRCA2 patients were older (55.4 vs. 51.1 y) and had fewer poorly differentiated tumors (67% vs. 82%). No difference in EFS was observed. OS at 5 years was 75% in BRCA2 patients versus 61% in BRCA1 patients; this was not statistically significant. A non-significant trend toward improved OS was observed in BRCA2 patients with advanced-stage disease (hazard ratio = 0.59; 95% confidence interval 0.32-1.08).

Age and grade differed significantly between BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers in our study population. Whereas no overall differences in EFS or OS were observed, there was a trend toward improved OS in BRCA2 carriers with advanced-stage disease.

This may reflect important differences between BRCA genotypes and should be validated in larger studies.