Objectives: The time interval between diagnoses of breast and epithelial ovarian cancer is not well established in women with dual primary tumors of both organ sites. Our goals were to examine the time interval between diagnoses and identify any relationship to clinicopathologic factors.
Methods: We identified 49 patients who developed both cancers. These patients were divided into two groups: group 1 patients developed breast cancer first, group 2 patients had ovarian before breast cancer. The risk of a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation in our study subjects was estimated using the BRCAPRO. Parameters were compared using either the chi(2) or the Kruskal-Wallace test.
Results: There were 26 and 23 patients in groups 1 and 2, respectively. The mean time interval was longer in group 2 (86 vs. 45 months; P = 0.013). Median PFS and OS were longer in group 2 for both cancers [PFS: 161 vs. 61 months for breast (P = 0.85) and 132 vs. 39 months for ovarian (P = 0.019); OS: 250 vs. 115 months for breast (P = 0.77) and 277 vs. 42 months for ovarian (P = 0.0013)]. OS was longer in group 2 for both cancers combined 217 vs. 115 (P = 0.026). The estimated risk of BRCA mutation was at least 20% in the majority of the patents.
Conclusions: Our data indicates that the time interval between the diagnosis of breast and ovarian carcinomas is 4 years. In contrast, the time interval between the diagnosis of ovarian and breast carcinomas is 7 years. These results could be useful in counseling women at risk.