As many as 15% of women with ovarian cancer carry BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations; but how often are such women identified? Researchers evaluated the likelihood of referral for genetic counseling in >3500 women with newly diagnosed epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer at a comprehensive cancer center in Texas from 1999 through 2007. Patients were defined as having substantial risk (>20%) for BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations if they had ovarian cancer plus any of the following: personal history of breast carcinoma; Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry; or a first-, second-, or third-degree relative with breast cancer diagnosed before age 50 or with ovarian cancer diagnosed at any age.
Overall, 24% of participants met substantial risk criter…