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Improved survival in BRCA2 carriers with ovarian cancer

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Abstract

Objectives

The objective of this study was to investigate survival of ovarian cancer patients with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations compared to those without mutations in a population-based sample of incident epithelial ovarian cancer cases.

Methods

Follow-up for vital status was performed on a population-based sample of 232 women with incident epithelial ovarian cancer recruited between December 13, 2000 and September 30, 2003 in the Tampa Bay area. Survival analysis using Cox regression was performed on (1) all 232 cases and (2) the 209 invasive epithelial ovarian cancer cases. Results of the two analyses were similar, thus data involving the 209 invasive epithelial cancer cases are presented, as this was judged to be more clinically relevant.

Results

In the multivariate analysis, BRCA status and stage were statistically significant, and were adjusted for in the survival analysis model. The Kaplan–Meier method estimated expected survival at 4 years of 83% of BRCA2 carriers compared to 37% of BRCA1 carriers and 12% of non-carriers. There was a statistically significant difference between BRCA2 carriers and non-carriers (p = 0.013). No statistically significant survival differences were seen for BRCA1 carriers when compared with either BRCA2 carriers or non-carriers.

Conclusion

These data suggest that BRCA2 mutation carriers with ovarian cancer may have better survival than BRCA1 carriers and non-carriers. The etiology of this possible survival advantage is currently unknown. Larger studies are needed to confirm these results and to clarify their etiology and clinical significance.

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Acknowledgments

The Tampa Bay Ovarian Cancer Study was supported by grant # DAMD 17-98-1-8659 from the Department of Defense. The ongoing Ovarian Cancer and Mismatch Repair Deficiency Study is supported by grant # R01CA111914-01 from the National Cancer Institute. We are grateful for the work of Cheryl Miree, M.S., Katie Shuler, Elizabeth Allen, A.R.N.P, Mary Reilly, R.N., and Dominique Garvin, A.R.N.P. for data abstraction. We would especially like to thank all of the women who participated in the Tampa Bay Ovarian Cancer Study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, MRC-CANCONT, Tampa, FL , 33612, USA

    Tuya Pal, Jenny Permuth-Wey & Rebecca Sutphen

  2. Biostatistics Core, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA

    Rachna Kapoor & Alan Cantor

  3. Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology, College of Medicine, The University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA

    Tuya Pal, Jenny Permuth-Wey, Alan Cantor & Rebecca Sutphen

  4. Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, All Children’s Hospital, The University of South Florida, St Petersburg, FL, USA

    Tuya Pal & Rebecca Sutphen

Authors
  1. Tuya Pal
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  2. Jenny Permuth-Wey
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  3. Rachna Kapoor
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  4. Alan Cantor
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  5. Rebecca Sutphen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jenny Permuth-Wey.

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Article precis

Based on a population-based sample of 232 ovarian cancer patients, BRCA2 mutation carriers with ovarian cancer may have better survival than BRCA1 carriers and non-carriers.

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Pal, T., Permuth-Wey, J., Kapoor, R. et al. Improved survival in BRCA2 carriers with ovarian cancer. Familial Cancer 6, 113–119 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10689-006-9112-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10689-006-9112-x

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