Review Offers Guidance on Managing Ovarian Cancer Risk in BRCA Mutation Carriers

By Amy Orciari Herman

Edited by André Sofair, MD, MPH

A review in the Canadian Medical Association Journal outlines steps clinicians can take in managing ovarian cancer risk in women with BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants.

Among the key points, based on an analysis of 46 articles:

• Women with a known or likely family history of pathogenic BRCA1/2 mutations should undergo genetic testing under the guidance of a genetic counselor (a comprehensive list of BRCA1/2 testing indications is provided in the review).

• No screening method for ovarian cancer has been shown to reduce mortality, even in high-risk women.

• Salpingo-oophorectomy can reduce ovarian cancer risk by roughly 80%. It should be performed at ages 35 to 40 in women with a BRCA1 mutation and at ages 40 to 45 in those with a BRCA2 mutation.

• Women who have salpingo-oophorectomy to lower their ovarian cancer risk should take hormone therapy (provided they don't have a history of breast cancer) until they reach the average age of menopause.