Impact of BRCA Gene Testing on Ovarian Cancer Management

Abstract

Ovarian cancer is a diverse disease with several cellular subtypes, the most common of which are high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). Ovarian cancer is still primarily treated with chemotherapy and surgery. Recent advances in the hereditary understanding of this disease have revealed that the BRCA gene plays an important role. While only a small percentage of HGSOC patients will have a germline BRCA mutation, many more will have tumor genetic aberrations within BRCA or other homologous recombination proteins. Improved preventative measures and therapeutic development have resulted from genetic screening for these BRCA mutations. This review focuses on BRCA mutations and their relationship to the development of ovarian cancer, as well as future therapeutic targets.