abstract: Clinicopathologic Characteristics and Survival in BRCA1- and BRCA2-Related Adnexal Cancer: Are They Different?

Abstract

Objective:  

Our aim was to examine the clinicopathologic characteristics and survival of ovarian, tubal, and peritoneal (further denoted "adnexal") cancer in BRCA1 compared with BRCA2 carriers.

Methods: A consecutive series of adnexal cancers in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers diagnosed in 1980 to 2010 at the University Medical Center Groningen was analyzed.

Results: 

We evaluated 55 BRCA1- and 16 BRCA2-related adnexal cancers, consisting of 51 ovarian, 13 tubal, and 7 peritoneal cancers. Peritoneal cancer was restricted to BRCA1 carriers. Ovarian and tubal cancer was equally present in both carrier groups. Median age at diagnosis was younger in BRCA1 compared with BRCA2 carriers (50 vs 54 years; P = 0.03). No other clinicopathologic differences were found. Regarding survival, a nonsignificant trend was noted for BRCA2 carriers to have fewer relapses, a longer time to first relapse, and a longer disease-free and overall survival.

Conclusions: Except for age at diagnosis and prevalence of peritoneal cancer, no significant clinicopathologic differences were found between BRCA1- versus BRCA2-associated adnexal cancer. On survival, it might be suggested that BRCA2 carriers have a more favorable outcome than BRCA1 carriers, marked by fewer relapses, a longer time to first relapse, and a longer disease-free and overall survival.

"Primary peritoneal" high-grade serous carcinoma is very likely metastatic from serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma: Assessing the new paradigm of ovarian and pelvic serous carcinogenesis and its implications for screening for ovarian cancer.

CONCLUSIONS: At least half the cases of primary peritoneal high-grade serous carcinoma are associated with intraepithelial carcinoma of the fallopian tube, usually involving the fimbriae. These findings support the view that, like "primary ovarian carcinoma," what has been traditionally classified as "primary peritoneal carcinoma" is probably derived from occult high-grade serous carcinoma in the fallopian tube. These findings have important implications for ultrasound screening trials for ovarian cancer which are based on the assumption that an enlarged ovary is a very early manifestation of disease.

abstract/free full text access: Primary peritoneal and ovarian cancers: an epidemiological comparative analysis

Note: click on 'pdf' for access the the full paper; some interesting points regarding talc use, oral contraceptives, number of pregnancies....

Primary peritoneal and ovarian cancers: an epidemiological comparative analysis.

Cancer Causes Control. 2010 Mar 23

"We performed case-control analyses using data from the North Carolina Ovarian Cancer Study to determine risk factors that distinguish primary peritoneal cancer (PPC) from epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).
Our risk factor analyses were restricted to invasive serous cancers including 495 EOC cases, 62 PPC cases and 1,086 control women....Although many case-control associations for the invasive serous PPC cases were similar to those of the invasive serous EOC cases, some differences were observed including a twofold increase in risk of invasive serous PPC in women who were >/=35 years at last pregnancy, whereas a decreased risk was observed for invasive serous EOC risk.
We could not confirm a previous report of an association between tubal ligation and PPC, a factor consistently associated with a decreased risk of EOC. The difference in the risk factor associations between invasive serous PPC and EOC cancers suggests divergent molecular development of peritoneal and ovarian cancers.
A larger study to determine risk factors for invasive serous PPC is warranted."

free full access: A phase-I trial of pemetrexed plus carboplatin in recurrent ovarian cancer.

for full free access click on 'pdf'

Primary peritoneal and ovarian cancers: an epidemiological comparative analysis

"The difference in the risk factor associations between invasive serous PPC and EOC cancers suggests divergent molecular development of peritoneal and ovarian cancers. A larger study to determine risk factors for invasive serous PPC is warranted."