Family history of cancer and cancer risks in women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations

J Natl Cancer Inst. 2010 Dec 15;102(24):1874-8. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djq443. Epub 2010 Nov 23.

Abstract

Women who carry a deleterious mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2 have high lifetime risks of breast and ovarian cancers. However, the influence of a family history of these cancers on these risks in women with BRCA mutations is unclear. We calculated cancer incidence rates for a multinational cohort comprising 3011 women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations who were followed up for a mean of 3.9 years, during which time 243 incident breast or ovarian cancers were recorded. The 10-year cumulative risks of breast cancer were 18.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 13.3% to 22.8%) for women with a BRCA1 mutation and 15.2% (95% CI = 9.1% to 21.2%) for women with a BRCA2 mutation. Among women with a BRCA1 mutation, the risk of breast cancer increased by 1.2-fold for each first-degree relative with breast cancer before age 50 years (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.94 to 1.57) and the risk of ovarian cancer increased by 1.6 fold for each first- or second-degree relative with ovarian cancer (HR = 1.61; 95% CI = 1.21 to 2.14). Among women with a BRCA2 mutation, the risk of breast cancer increased by 1.7-fold for each first-degree relative younger than 50 years with breast cancer (HR = 1.67; 95% CI = 1.04 to 2.07).

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • BRCA1 Protein / genetics*
  • BRCA2 Protein / genetics*
  • Breast Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Heterozygote
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation*
  • Odds Ratio
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • BRCA1 Protein
  • BRCA1 protein, human
  • BRCA2 Protein
  • BRCA2 protein, human