Abstract
The role of genetics in virtually all forms of gynecologic cancer has received intense interest in both the research and clinical community during the past decade. This interest surged even further in light of the identification of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes and their ultimate cloning. Even though there is still a lack of well-designed population-based studies able to define the actual incidence of BRCA-linked BC and OC, the possible identification of women at genetic high risk for BC/OC has represented an essential step toward a decrease in cancer mortality rates. There is a strong variability in penetrance and studies on genetic and environmental factors potentially affecting penetrance are in progress. To date, there is no clear evidence for a significant irfipact of any preventative strategy on cancer risk/mortality in this setting. Nevertheless, counseling on prevention measures is strongly requested by high-risk individuals, whereas data from controlled trials are expected to be available in the next few years. By now, it should be mandatory to treat such individuals at experienced counseling clinics, within IRB-supervised protocols. Increasing is the amount of data about chemoprevention and the inclusion of high-risk subjects in controlled trials should be encouraged. Prophylactic surgery has been shown to decrease cancer risk, but it is less than expected and should only be considered in specific conditions.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 24-28 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Current Problems in Cancer |
| Volume | 27 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 2003 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Hematology
- Oncology
Cite this
Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. / Greggi, Stefano; Scala, Felice; Laurelli, Giuseppe.
In: Current Problems in Cancer, Vol. 27, No. 1, 01.2003, p. 24-28.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer
AU - Greggi, Stefano
AU - Scala, Felice
AU - Laurelli, Giuseppe
PY - 2003/1
Y1 - 2003/1
N2 - The role of genetics in virtually all forms of gynecologic cancer has received intense interest in both the research and clinical community during the past decade. This interest surged even further in light of the identification of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes and their ultimate cloning. Even though there is still a lack of well-designed population-based studies able to define the actual incidence of BRCA-linked BC and OC, the possible identification of women at genetic high risk for BC/OC has represented an essential step toward a decrease in cancer mortality rates. There is a strong variability in penetrance and studies on genetic and environmental factors potentially affecting penetrance are in progress. To date, there is no clear evidence for a significant irfipact of any preventative strategy on cancer risk/mortality in this setting. Nevertheless, counseling on prevention measures is strongly requested by high-risk individuals, whereas data from controlled trials are expected to be available in the next few years. By now, it should be mandatory to treat such individuals at experienced counseling clinics, within IRB-supervised protocols. Increasing is the amount of data about chemoprevention and the inclusion of high-risk subjects in controlled trials should be encouraged. Prophylactic surgery has been shown to decrease cancer risk, but it is less than expected and should only be considered in specific conditions.
AB - The role of genetics in virtually all forms of gynecologic cancer has received intense interest in both the research and clinical community during the past decade. This interest surged even further in light of the identification of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes and their ultimate cloning. Even though there is still a lack of well-designed population-based studies able to define the actual incidence of BRCA-linked BC and OC, the possible identification of women at genetic high risk for BC/OC has represented an essential step toward a decrease in cancer mortality rates. There is a strong variability in penetrance and studies on genetic and environmental factors potentially affecting penetrance are in progress. To date, there is no clear evidence for a significant irfipact of any preventative strategy on cancer risk/mortality in this setting. Nevertheless, counseling on prevention measures is strongly requested by high-risk individuals, whereas data from controlled trials are expected to be available in the next few years. By now, it should be mandatory to treat such individuals at experienced counseling clinics, within IRB-supervised protocols. Increasing is the amount of data about chemoprevention and the inclusion of high-risk subjects in controlled trials should be encouraged. Prophylactic surgery has been shown to decrease cancer risk, but it is less than expected and should only be considered in specific conditions.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0037284897&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1067/mcn.2003.120003a
DO - 10.1067/mcn.2003.120003a
M3 - Article
C2 - 12569346
AN - SCOPUS:0037284897
VL - 27
SP - 24
EP - 28
JO - Current Problems in Cancer
JF - Current Problems in Cancer
SN - 0147-0272
IS - 1
ER -