Salpingo-Oophorectomy Lowers Cancer Risk in BRCA1/2 Carriers

NEW YORK JAN 13, 2009 (Reuters Health) - The use of risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) in BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation carriers can lower their risk of breast cancer by about 50% and their risk of ovarian or fallopian tube cancer by roughly 80%, the results of a meta-analysis show.

Prior research has shown that RRSO can help prevent breast, ovarian, and fallopian tube malignancies in these high-risk patients, but the magnitude of the risk reduction was unclear, lead author Dr. Timothy R. Rebbeck, from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, and colleagues explain.

To investigate, the research team searched PubMed for studies that examined breast or gynecologic cancer outcomes in BRCA mutation carriers who underwent RRSO. Data from 10 studies were included in the meta-analysis.

The investigators report their findings in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute for January 21.

RRSO reduced the risk of breast cancer in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers by 53%, the report indicates. Likewise, the operation was associated with a 79% reduced risk of BRCA1/2-related ovarian or fallopian tube cancer.

Despite the efficacy of RRSO in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers, the authors note that a residual cancer risk still remains. As such, other cancer risk reduction and screening approaches are still needed to fully reduce cancer rates and mortality in these high-risk patients.

In an accompanying editorial, Dr. Mark H. Greene and Dr. Phuong L. Mai, from the National Cancer Institute in Rockville, Maryland, comment that Dr. Rebbeck"s team has "provided us with a meticulously executed, up-to-date meta-analysis that quantifies the reductions in the risks of breast and ovarian/fallopian tube cancer that follow RRSO in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers."

SOURCE:

• J Natl Cancer Inst 2009;101:70-71,80-87.



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