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S A Narod

Publications and source records attributed to S A Narod.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Clinical features of familial ovarian cancer lacking mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: The purpose of the present study was to identify the clinical and pathologic features of ovarian cancers in patients who have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer but who do not have a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene. METHODS: 303 patients with ovarian cancer were reviewed for clinical features and for cancer family histories. After the exclusion of 51 patients known to carry BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations, 24 patients with familial cancer were compared with 228 patients with non-familial cancer. RESULTS: Patients with familial cancer were more likely to have grade 2 tumors, Stage II disease and to present between ages 51 and 60 than were non-familial controls. Ten of 24 patients in the familial group presented between ages 51 and 60 with a grade 2 tumor compared to 3.0 expected (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Families of women who present with grade 2 ovarian cancer between the ages of 51 and 60 may have an unidentified ovarian cancer susceptibility gene.

Adult↗

Predictors of the plasma ratio of 2-hydroxyestrone to 16alpha-hydroxyestrone among pre-menopausal, nulliparous women from four ethnic groups.

Studies of circulating estrogen levels in relation to pre-menopausal breast cancer risk have yielded inconsistent results. Various estrogen metabolites might affect the risk differently. Estradiol metabolism occurs primarily via two mutually exclusive pathways, yielding 2-hydroxyestrone (2-OHE) and 16alpha-hydroxyestrone (16alpha-OHE). Most, but not all, studies have found that a relatively high 2-OHE/16alpha-OHE ratio is associated with a low breast cancer risk. Our objective was to determine if the 2-OHE/16alpha-OHE ratio in plasma correlates with suspected breast cancer risk factors and other lifestyle factors, such as ethnicity, body size, age at menarche, oral contraceptive use, smoking, vegetarian diet, coffee and alcohol consumption in 513 nulliparous women, aged 17-35. Oral contraceptive users had significantly lower 2-OHE/16alpha-OHE ratios than pill non-users (P = 10(-21)). Among women who were not using oral contraceptives, the median 2-OHE/16alpha-OHE ratio in plasma was similar for white, black, Indian/Pakistani and Asian women, after adjustment for age and menstrual cycle phase. Among oral contraceptive users, Asian women had significantly lower 2-OHE/16alpha-OHE ratios than white women, and this result remained after adjustment for age and day of menstrual cycle. Daily coffee consumption was significantly positively correlated with 2-OHE/16alpha-OHE ratios (r(s) = 0.18, P = 0.002) only among pill non-users. Our findings suggest that the plasma 2-OHE/16alpha-OHE ratio is associated with constitutional factors and with modifiable lifestyle factors. The reported elevated risk of early onset breast cancer among young oral contraceptive users could be mediated in part through altered estrogen metabolism induced by synthetic estrogens and progestins.

Administration, Oral↗

Carrier risk status changes resulting from mutation testing in hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer and hereditary breast-ovarian cancer.

CONTEXT: In hereditary cancer syndrome families with an identified cancer associated mutation, mutation testing changes the carrier risk status of the tested person and may change the carrier risk status of relatives. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe the change in the distribution of carrier risk status resulting from testing in hereditary breast-ovarian cancer (HBOC) and hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) families. DESIGN: This was an observational cohort study. PATIENTS: The cohort included members of 75 HBOC and 47 HNPCC families. Of the 10 910 cohort members, 1408 were tested for a mutation and learned their test results. OUTCOME MEASURE: Carrier risk for all cohort members was assessed before and after mutation testing. RESULTS: There was a change in carrier risk status in 2906 subjects after testing of 1408 family members. The most common type of carrier risk change, from at risk to non-carrier status, accounted for 77% of the risk changes; 12% were a change to known carrier status from a lower risk. Sixty percent of persons with a carrier risk status change were not themselves tested; their risk status changed because of a relative's test result. CONCLUSIONS: Carrier risk status changes from uncertainty to certainty (that is, to carrier or to non-carrier) account for 89% of risk changes resulting from testing. These risk changes affect cancer prevention recommendations, most commonly reducing their burden. Current practices do not ensure that untested family members are informed about changes in their carrier risk status which result from mutation testing of their relatives.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Evaluation of the needs of spouses of female carriers of mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2.

The process of genetic testing involves the entire family, including spouses. The objective of this study was to measure the specific needs and to describe the experiences of spouses of women who received genetic counseling for a positive BRCA1/2 result. We surveyed 59 spouses of female mutation carriers. The mean length of relationships was 26 years (range: 2.5-50 years). All were supportive of their spouses' decision to undergo genetic testing and counselling. Four respondents stated that they wished that they had received additional support at the time of test disclosure and 20% felt that their wives had received inadequate support. One-quarter of the spouses believed that their relationship had changed because of genetic testing; most felt that they had become closer to their wives. Husbands were most concerned about the risk of their wife dying of cancer (43%), followed by the risk of their spouse developing cancer (19%) and the risk that their children would test positive for the BRCA mutation (14%). Distress levels, measured by the Impact of Event scale, suggest that few spouses were experiencing clinical levels of distress.

Adult↗

Histopathologic features of genetically determined ovarian cancer.

Inheritance of germline mutations of BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes account for approximately 10% of ovarian carcinomas, but the characterization of these genetically determined cancers is incomplete. The objective of our study was to characterize the histologic features of ovarian carcinomas associated with germline mutations of BRCA1 and BRCA2. Thirty-two ovarian carcinomas associated with germline BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations and 40 ovarian carcinomas from patients screened as negative for germline mutations were obtained from three centers. A gynecologic pathologist, blinded to mutation status, reviewed each case, with documentation of the histologic type, Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) grade, architectural and nuclear grade, Silverberg grade, and mitotic activity. All BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation-associated cases were invasive serous carcinomas, and of these 50% were GOG grade 3, 41% had an architectural grade of 3 (predominant solid architecture), 84% a nuclear grade of 3, 72% a mitotic score of 3 (>25 mitoses per 10 HPF), and 75% a Silverberg grade of 3. The differences in histologic type (p = 0.001) and Silverberg grade (p = 0.002) between these tumors and the control group were statistically significant and remained so when comparisons between BRCA carriers and noncarriers were restricted to carcinomas of serous histology alone. Ovarian carcinomas associated with germline mutations of BRCA1/BRCA2 are, in this study, invasive serous carcinomas, with a statistically significant higher histologic grade than ovarian carcinomas without BRCA mutations when using the recently proposed Silverberg grading system.

Female↗

Familial and hormonal risk factors for papillary serous uterine cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To identify genetic and non-genetic risk factors for papillary serous uterine cancer. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted. Case women with papillary serous uterine cancer were compared with two control groups: 1) women with endometrioid uterine cancer and 2) healthy women with no past history of cancer. Cases and controls were matched for age (within two years) and ethnic group. All study subjects completed a questionnaire addressing family history. The cases and healthy controls were assessed for factors associated with estrogen exposure. RESULTS: The risks of breast cancer (RR 1.84, CI 1.03-3.31) and of prostate cancer (RR 2.21, CI 0.77-6.37) were higher among the relatives of patients with papillary serous uterine cancer, than among relatives of those with endometrioid uterine cancer. Other significant risk factors included weight at 18 years (p = 0.04) and the use of estrogen replacement therapy (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Relatives of women with papillary serous cancer of the uterus had an increased risk of breast and prostate cancer. Hormonal exposure also increases the risk for this cancer. These findings suggest that predisposing genetic factors, possibly related to hormone metabolism, may be common to the three forms of cancer.

Adolescent↗

Risk factors for ovarian cancer and early-onset breast cancer in Mongolia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if there are founder BRCA1 mutations in the Mongolian population. METHODS: Seventeen women with ovarian cancer, 14 women with premenopausal breast cancer and one woman with both cancer types were interviewed to obtain family history, and hormonal, reproductive and environment risk factor information. Blood was collected for DNA analysis from these women to determine the frequency of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in Mongolia. RESULTS: Two patients had two first-degree relatives with cancer and nine women had one first degree relative with cancer. Two women had the unique BRCA1 mutation previously described. These two women were not related but their parents were from the same tribe and they lived in the same imak (province). Only one other patient was of this tribal background and from the same region; however, she did not have the BRCA1 mutation. CONCLUSION: A substantial proportion of Mongolian woman with ovarian cancer or early-onset breast cancer may be due to a founder BRCA1 mutation 3452delA.

Adult↗

Comparison of breast magnetic resonance imaging, mammography, and ultrasound for surveillance of women at high risk for hereditary breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Recommended surveillance for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers includes regular mammography and clinical breast examination, although the effectiveness of these screening techniques in mutation carriers has not been established. The purpose of the present study was to compare breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with ultrasound, mammography, and physical examination in women at high risk for hereditary breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 196 women, aged 26 to 59 years, with proven BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations or strong family histories of breast or ovarian cancer underwent mammography, ultrasound, MRI, and clinical breast examination on a single day. A biopsy was performed when any of the four investigations was judged to be suspicious for malignancy. RESULTS: Six invasive breast cancers and one noninvasive breast cancer were detected among the 196 high-risk women. Five of the invasive cancers occurred in mutation carriers, and the sixth occurred in a woman with a previous history of breast cancer. The prevalence of invasive or noninvasive breast cancer in the 96 mutation carriers was 6.2%. All six invasive cancers were detected by MRI, all were 1.0 cm or less in diameter, and all were node-negative. In contrast, only three invasive cancers were detected by ultrasound, two by mammography, and two by physical examination. The addition of MRI to the more commonly available triad of mammography, ultrasound, and breast examination identified two additional invasive breast cancers that would otherwise have been missed. CONCLUSION: Breast MRI may be superior to mammography and ultrasound for the screening of women at high risk for hereditary breast cancer.

Adult↗

Modification of BRCA1- and BRCA2-associated breast cancer risk by AIB1 genotype and reproductive history.

Women who have inherited a germ-line mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 (BRCA1/2) genes have a greatly increased risk of developing breast cancer compared with the general population. However, there is also substantial interindividual variability in the occurrence of breast cancer among BRCA1/2 mutation carriers. We hypothesize that genes involved in endocrine signaling may modify the BRCA1/2-associated age-specific breast cancer penetrance. We studied the effect of alleles at the AIB1 gene using a matched case-control sample of 448 women with germ-line BRCA1/2 mutations. We found that these women were at significantly higher breast cancer risk if they carried alleles with at least 28 or 29 polyglutamine repeats at AIB1, compared with women who carried alleles with fewer polyglutamine repeats [odds ratio (OR), 1.59; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.03-2.47 and OR, 2.85; 95% CI, 1.64-4.96, respectively]. Late age at first live birth and nulliparity have been associated with increased breast cancer risk. We observed increases in BRCA1/2-associated breast cancer risk in women who were either nulliparous or had their first live birth after age 30 (OR, 3.06; 95% CI, 1.52-6.16). Women were at significantly increased risk if they were nulliparous or had a late age at first live birth and had AIB1 alleles no shorter than 28 or 29 or more AIB1 polyglutamine repeats (OR, 4.62; 95% CI, 2.02-10.56 and OR, 6.97; 95% CI, 1.71-28.43, respectively) than women with none of these risk factors. Our results support the hypothesis that pathways involving endocrine signaling, as measured through AIB1 genotype and reproductive history, may have a substantial effect on BRCA1/2-associated breast cancer risk.

Adult↗

Tubal ligation and risk of ovarian cancer in carriers of BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: In several case-control and prospective studies, tubal ligation has been associated with a decreased risk of invasive epithelial ovarian cancer. We aimed to assess the potential of tubal ligation in reducing the risk of ovarian cancer in women who carry predisposing mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. METHODS: We did a matched case-control study among women from Canada, the USA, and the UK who had undergone genetic testing and who carried a pathogenic mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2. Cases were 232 women with a history of invasive ovarian cancer, and controls were 232 women without ovarian cancer, and who had both ovaries intact. Cases and controls were matched for year of birth, country of residence, and mutation (BRCA1 or BRCA2). The odds ratio for developing ovarian cancer was estimated for tubal ligation, adjusting for oral contraceptive use, parity, history of breast cancer, and ethnic group. FINDINGS: In an unadjusted analysis among BRCA1 carriers, significantly fewer cases than controls had ever had tubal ligation (30 of 173 [18%] vs 60 of 173 [35%], odds ratio 0.37 [95% CI 0.21-0.63]; p=0.0003). After adjustment for oral contraceptive use, parity, history of breast cancer and ethnic group, the odds ratio was 0.39 (p=0.002). Combination of tubal ligation and past use of an oral contraceptive was associated with an odds ratio of 0.28 (0.15-0.52). No protective effect of tubal ligation was seen among carriers of the BRCA2 mutation. INTERPRETATION: Tubal ligation is a feasible option to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer in women with BRCA1 mutations who have completed childbearing.

Adult↗

HPC2 variants and screen-detected prostate cancer.

Two studies have reported significant associations between susceptibility to prostate cancer and two common missense variants of the HPC2/ELAC2 gene, with estimated relative risks in the range of two- to threefold. We investigated whether these polymorphisms could be informative in the prediction of the presence of prostate cancer in men undergoing prostatic biopsy for the evaluation of an elevated serum-PSA level (> or = 4.0 ng/ml). We genotyped 944 men who underwent a prostate biopsy at our institution, as well as a control population of 922 healthy, unselected women from the same population. The prevalence of the HPC2 Ala541Thr allele was similar in men with prostate cancer (6.3%), men with other prostatic conditions (6.8%), and healthy women (6.3%) (P = .83). We conclude that HPC2 genotyping is unlikely to be a useful adjunct to PSA in the prediction of the presence of biopsy-detected prostate cancer in asymptomatic men.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Prevalence and penetrance of germline BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in a population series of 649 women with ovarian cancer.

A population-based series of 649 unselected incident cases of ovarian cancer diagnosed in Ontario, Canada, during 1995-96 was screened for germline mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2. We specifically tested for 11 of the most commonly reported mutations in the two genes. Then, cases were assessed with the protein-truncation test (PTT) for exon 11 of BRCA1, with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis for the remainder of BRCA1, and with PTT for exons 10 and 11 of BRCA2. No mutations were found in all 134 women with tumors of borderline histology. Among the 515 women with invasive cancers, we identified 60 mutations, 39 in BRCA1 and 21 in BRCA2. The total mutation frequency among women with invasive cancers, 11.7% (95% confidence interval [95%CI] 9.2%-14.8%), is higher than previous estimates. Hereditary ovarian cancers diagnosed at age <50 years were mostly (83%) due to BRCA1, whereas the majority (60%) of those diagnosed at age >60 years were due to BRCA2. Mutations were found in 19% of women reporting first-degree relatives with breast or ovarian cancer and in 6.5% of women with no affected first-degree relatives. Risks of ovarian, breast, and stomach cancers and leukemias/lymphomas were increased nine-, five-, six- and threefold, respectively, among first-degree relatives of cases carrying BRCA1 mutations, compared with relatives of noncarriers, and risk of colorectal cancer was increased threefold for relatives of cases carrying BRCA2 mutations. For carriers of BRCA1 mutations, the estimated penetrance by age 80 years was 36% for ovarian cancer and 68% for breast cancer. In breast-cancer risk for first-degree relatives, there was a strong trend according to mutation location along the coding sequence of BRCA1, with little evidence of increased risk for mutations in the 5' fifth, but 8.8-fold increased risk for mutations in the 3' fifth (95%CI 3.6-22.0), corresponding to a carrier penetrance of essentially 100%. Ovarian, colorectal, stomach, pancreatic, and prostate cancer occurred among first-degree relatives of carriers of BRCA2 mutations only when mutations were in the ovarian cancer-cluster region (OCCR) of exon 11, whereas an excess of breast cancer was seen when mutations were outside the OCCR. For cancers of all sites combined, the estimated penetrance of BRCA2 mutations was greater for males than for females, 53% versus 38%. Past studies may have underestimated the contribution of BRCA2 to ovarian cancer, because mutations in this gene cause predominantly late-onset cancer, and previous work has focused more on early-onset disease. If confirmed in future studies, the trend in breast-cancer penetrance, according to mutation location along the BRCA1 coding sequence, may have significant impact on treatment decisions for carriers of BRCA1-mutations. As well, BRCA2 mutations may prove to be a greater cause of cancer in male carriers than previously has been thought.

BRCA2 Protein↗