Women With BRCA1/2 Mutations Have High Risk of Cancer After Age 50

(HealthDay News) — The risk of cancer remains high for women older than 50 years with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations, according to a study published in Cancer.

Researchers estimated the cumulative risks for all cancers in women from 50 to 75 years of age with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 pathogenic variant. The analysis included 2211 women seen at 85 centers in 16 countries who were followed until a diagnosis of cancer, death, age 75 years, or last follow-up.

A total of 379 cancers were diagnosed. The actuarial risk of any cancer was 49% for BRCA1 and 43% for BRCA2. The most frequent cancers were breast (n=186) and ovarian (n=45).

The risk of developing any cancer between age 50 and 75 years was 9% for women who had both a risk-reducing mastectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy at younger than 50 years.

“Women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 pathogenic variant have a high risk of cancer between the ages of 50 and 75 years and should be counseled appropriately,” the study authors concluded.

Several authors disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical and genetics industries.