BRCA Mutation Patients: Are There Other Predisposing Factors for Ovarian Cancer Occurrence? A Multicenter Retrospective Study

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this multicenter retrospective study aimed to evaluate the association of clinical variables and the incidence of ovarian cancer in patients with BRCA 1–2 mutation carriers who underwent risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO). Design: Patients with a pathogenic mutation of BRCA 1–2 genes and with no evidence of disease are considered eligible. The exclusion criterion was the refusal to undergo the surgery. The retrospective study included all RRSO performed from May 2015 to April 2022 in the three gynecological Institutions of Southern Italy for were included in this retrospective study. Participants/Materials, Setting, Methods: Age, menarche age, BMI, menopause at time of RRSO, breast cancer first- and second-degree relatives, ovarian cancer first- and second-degree relatives, estroprogestin use, pregnancy normal full-term delivery, history of endometriosis, previous breast cancer and histologic type, previous abdominal/pelvic surgery, BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 status, preoperative serum CA-125 levels (IU/mL), age at time of RRSO and histological analysis were collected. Results: 184 were recruited. One was excluded. To assess cancer risk, the outcome variable was classified into three classes: no event, cancer, and other conditions excluding cancer. 14 women presented ovarian cancer and tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC) on histopathologic final report. Ovarian cancer was found in 8 patients, whereas the presence of STIC was found in 6 of them. Limitations: The low incidence of patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer or STIC compared with the total number of patients undergoing RRSO is a potential bias. Conclusions: Our study did not demonstrate a correlation between clinical features and the occurrence of precancerous or cancerous lesions in BRCA mutation carrier patients.