Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies in women, affecting one in twelve. Ovarian cancer, although not as frequent, is the leading cause of death from gynaecological cancer. Inherited predisposition to breast and ovarian cancer, which accounts for approximately 5 to 10% of these cancers, has been associated with mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Mutations in both of these genes increase the lifetime risk of developing breast cancer by approximately 80%. BRCA1 confers a greater predisposition of ovarian cancer than BRCA2, however, BRCA2 has been associated with male breast cancer. Polymorphisms linked to BRCA1 and BRCA2 were studied to examine whether either of these genes were linked to breast and breast/ovarian cancer families. None of the five cancer families studied generated statistically significant lod scores although the segregation of a common haplotype with the disease in each family and positive lod scores did suggest that four of these families were linked to BRCA1 and the other to BRCA2. Subsequent mutation studies identified three germline mutations, thus confirming the initial linkage results in three families. A total of four deletions and six polymorphisms were identified in BRCA1 and BRCA2 from forty-eight breast and breast/ovarian cancer families, using SSCP analysis and PTT. The functional effect of these mutations is unclear although variable expression of the cancer phenotype suggests that other genes and environmental factors play an important role in the development of breast and ovarian cancer. Evidence of an abnormal protein was detected by the presence of clonal LOH of the normal allele, using BRCA1 antibodies in familial breast and ovarian tumours. In addition, BRCA1 immunostaining was negative in a greater proportion of benign tumours compared to malignant ovarian tumours. The loss of BRCA1 does not lead to malignancy, suggesting that BRCA1 may have another role in benign ovarian epithelial tumours.

Les femmes porteuses d’une mutation du gène BRCA1 ou BRCA2 ont un risque de cancer du sein (CS) très élevé dont les estimations varient beaucoup d’une étude à l’autre. L’objectif principal de cette étude est de mieux estimer le risque de CS associé aux gènes BRCA1/2 en tenant compte de la variabilité des mutations et des facteurs « environnementaux/style de vie » et de leur éventuelle interaction. Nous avons analysé les données de la cohorte GENEPSO composée de femmes porteuses d’une mutation du gène BRCA1 ou BRCA2 à l’aide d’un modèle de Cox pondéré. L’analyse des facteurs de risque gynéco-obstétrique et de « style de vie » a permis de mettre en évidence une association entre le risque de CS et les radiations ionisantes, la consommation de tabac, l’indice de masse corporelle, l’âge aux premières règles, la parité, les interruptions de grossesse, la contraception orale, la ménopause et les traitements hormonaux substitutifs. Cette étude confirme l’existence d’une zone centrale à moindre risque de CS dans les gènes BRCA1/2 et de décrire une nouvelle région à haut risque située dans la région 3’ du gène BRCA2. Cette étude montre également une interaction entre la localisation des mutations et la parité ainsi que la ménopause. Cette étude montre l’importance de la prise en compte simultanée des facteurs de risque « non génétiques » et de la localisation des mutations dans les gènes BRCA1/2 dans l’estimation des risques de CS. Si nos résultats sont confirmés sur de plus larges données, cette étude pourrait aider ces femmes dans le choix du type de stratégie de surveillance ou de prévention le mieux adapté à leur situation. / Breast cancer is the most frequent and mortal cancer among French women. Mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 confer a high risk of breast cancer. The diversity of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations and of gyneco-obstetrical and life style risk factors may modify the magnitude of this risk. The objective of this study is to assess breast cancer risk taking into account gyneco-obstetrical and life style factors, location of mutation in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes and there potential interaction.The data from 1337 women BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers of the French study GENEPSO have been analysed by using a weighted Cox regression model to take into account the bias of recruitment. Our results show an association between breast cancer risk and X-ray exposures, tobacco, body mass index, age at menarche, parity, interrupted pregnancies, oral contraceptives, menopausal status and hormone replacement therapy. We confirm the existence of a central low breast cancer risk region in BRCA1 (LR1 region between codons 374 and 1161) and in BRCA2 (LR2 region between codons 957 and 1827). In addition, a new high breast cancer risk region is found in the 3’ region of BRCA2 (HR2 region between codons 2546 and 2968). Moreover, our results suggest a variation in breast cancer risk associated with parity and menopausal status according to the location of the mutation in BRCA1 and BRCA2. Our findings show that, taking into account environmental and lifestyle modifiers, mutation position might be important for the clinical management of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers and could also be helpful in understanding how BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are involved in breast cancer.

No description available.

The introduction of an increasing number of individualized molecular targeted therapies into clinical routine mirrors their importance in modern cancer prevention and treatment. Well-known examples for targeted agents are the monoclonal antibody trastuzumab and the selective estrogen receptor modulator tamoxifen. The identification of an unaltered gene in tumor tissue in colon cancer (KRAS) is a predictor for the patient’s response to targeted therapy with a monoclonal antibody (cetuximab). Targeted therapy for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer has become a reality with the approval of olaparib for platin-sensitive late relapsed BRCA-associated ovarian cancer in December 2014. This manuscript reviews the status quo of poly-ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) in the therapy of breast and ovarian cancer as well as the struggle for carboplatin as a potential standard of care for triple-negative and, in particular, BRCA-associated breast cancer. Details of the mechanism of action with information on tumor development are provided, and an outlook for further relevant research is given. The efficacy of agents against molecular targets together with the identification of an increasing number of cancer-associated genes will open the floodgates to a new era of treatment decision-making based on molecular tumor profiles. Current clinical trials involving patients with BRCA-associated cancer explore the efficacy of the molecular targeted therapeutics platinum and PARPi.

Background: Prophylactic mastectomies in carriers of mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 are becoming increasingly more accepted. We investigated the outcome after prophylactic mastectomy, especially regarding satisfaction with the procedure, in a monocenter study. Methods: BRCA1/2 mutation carriers and non-carriers with elevated pedigree-based cancer risk were followed prospectively in a structured surveillance program between 2000 and 2017. A retrospective telephone survey was conducted among all patients with documented prophylactic mastectomy. Complications and satisfaction with the decision for prophylactic mastectomy were recorded. Results: 39 patients who opted for a prophylactic mastectomy (38 BRCA1/2 mutation carriers and 1 noncarrier) were interviewed. Mostly nipple-sparing mastectomy with reconstruction was performed (87%). Half of the patients (22/39; 56.4%) had a history of unilateral breast cancer. The median time since prophylactic mastectomy was 5.6 years. While 61.5% did not report any complications, flap loss was seen in 15% (3/20) and moderate limitations in everyday life were present in 20% (7/35). An improvement in quality of life was noticed by 82% after prophylactic mastectomy and no patient expressed regret with regard to the decision. Conclusions: Prophylactic mastectomy is a procedure with risk for long-term complications in some cases. Our results confirm high satisfaction with the decision and improved quality of life.

Les femmes porteuses d'une mutation du gène BRCA1 ou BRCA2 ont un risque de cancer du sein (CS) très élevé dont les estimations varient beaucoup d'une étude à l'autre. L'objectif principal de cette étude est de mieux estimer le risque de CS associé aux gènes BRCA1/2 en tenant compte de la variabilité des mutations et des facteurs " environnementaux/style de vie " et de leur éventuelle interaction. Nous avons analysé les données de la cohorte GENEPSO composée de femmes porteuses d'une mutation du gène BRCA1 ou BRCA2 à l'aide d'un modèle de Cox pondéré. L'analyse des facteurs de risque gynéco-obstétrique et de " style de vie " a permis de mettre en évidence une association entre le risque de CS et les radiations ionisantes, la consommation de tabac, l'indice de masse corporelle, l'âge aux premières règles, la parité, les interruptions de grossesse, la contraception orale, la ménopause et les traitements hormonaux substitutifs. Cette étude confirme l'existence d'une zone centrale à moindre risque de CS dans les gènes BRCA1/2 et de décrire une nouvelle région à haut risque située dans la région 3' du gène BRCA2. Cette étude montre également une interaction entre la localisation des mutations et la parité ainsi que la ménopause. Cette étude montre l'importance de la prise en compte simultanée des facteurs de risque " non génétiques " et de la localisation des mutations dans les gènes BRCA1/2 dans l'estimation des risques de CS. Si nos résultats sont confirmés sur de plus larges données, cette étude pourrait aider ces femmes dans le choix du type de stratégie de surveillance ou de prévention le mieux adapté à leur situation.

Mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are known risk factors and drivers of breast and ovarian cancers. So far, few studies have been focused on understanding the differences in transcriptome and functional landscapes associated with the disease (breast vs. ovarian cancers), gene (BRCA1 vs. BRCA2), and mutation type (germline vs. somatic). In this study, we were aimed at systemic evaluation of the association of BRCA1 and BRCA2 germline and somatic mutations with gene expression, disease clinical features, outcome, and treatment. We performed BRCA1/2 mutation centered RNA-seq data analysis of breast and ovarian cancers from the TCGA repository using transcriptome and phenotype 'portrayal' with multi-layer self-organizing maps and functional annotation. The results revealed considerable differences in BRCA1- and BRCA2-dependent transcriptome landscapes in the studied cancers. Furthermore, our data indicated that somatic and germline mutations for both genes are characterized by deregulation of different biological functions and differential associations with phenotype characteristics and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)-inhibitor gene signatures. Overall, this study demonstrates considerable variation in transcriptomic landscapes of breast and ovarian cancers associated with the affected gene (BRCA1 vs. BRCA2), as well as the mutation type (somatic vs. germline). These results warrant further investigations with larger groups of mutation carriers aimed at refining the understanding of molecular mechanisms of breast and ovarian cancers.