Lack of heritability in ovarian germ cell malignancies

Abstract

<b>Objective</b>: Our purpose was to determine whether relatives of patients with ovarian germ cell malignancies not associated with sex chromosome abnormalities are at increased risk for similar tumors. <b>Study Design</b>: We reviewed pedigrees of 78 presumptive 46,XX patients (ages ranging from newborn to 20 years) with malignant ovarian germ cell tumors, excluding cases of dysgerminoma and gonadoblastoma. A three-generation family history of each proband was reviewed specifically to identify cancer in any family member. <b>Results</b>: Seventy-eight mothers, 87 sisters, 135 aunts, and 156 grandmothers were surveyed. None had a malignant ovarian germ cell neoplasm or other malignant ovarian neoplasm. <b>Conclusion</b>: First- and second-degree relatives of probards with ovarian germ cell malignancies do not have an increased risk for similar tumors. These findings were not predicted because of the well-recognized association of hereditary tumors and early age of onset.