Let's start with this basic video from the NCI on genetics and cancer.
Now let's talk about ovarian cancer in particular.
About
15% of the ovarian cancers diagnosed are due to germline (inherited and passed
on to offspring) mutations in the BRCA1
and BRCA2 genes. Having these mutations increases the risk of ovarian cancer by
15-50%. “Nearly one-third of women with
hereditary ovarian carcinoma have no close relatives with cancer, and 35% of
women with hereditary ovarian carcinoma are older than 60 years at diagnosis”( NCI) . The remaining
ovarian cancers are due to what we call sporadic or somatic mutations.
Following the BRCA mutations the next inherited syndrome that leads to ovarian cancer is Lynch Syndrome. Mutations in the MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2 and
EPCAM genes are linked to Lynch Syndrome. Women who have Lynch syndrome have an estimated 9-12 %
lifetime risk for developing ovarian cancer. (http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/lynch-syndrome)
In
June 2011, the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Research
Network issued the results of whole-exome sequencing of ovarian cancer tumors. They examinesd the
protein-coding regions of the genome, of 316 ovarian cancer tumors.
The study found :
21
percent of the tumors studied showed mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2
six
other statistically recurrently mutated genes: RB1, NF1, FAT3,
CSMD3, GABRA6 and CDK12. CDK12 is involved in RNA
splicing regulation
96%
of ovarian cancers had a T53 mutation. T53 controls a tumor suppressor protein
that stops cancer from forming
108
genes were associated with poor survival
85
genes were associated with better survival
68
genes that could be targeted by existing Food and Drug Administration-approved
or experimental therapeutic compounds
Four
related subtypes of ovarian cancer based on the patterns of DNA methylation—a chemical reaction
in which a small molecule called a methyl group is added to DNA, changing the
activity of individual genes.
The
SGO released a Clinical Practice statement in 2014 stating that all women
diagnosed with ovarian, tubal and primary peritoneal cancer regardless of age
or family history should receive
counseling and offered a genetic test. (https://www.sgo.org/clinical-practice/guidelines/genetic-testing-for-ovarian-cancer/
) Knowing a women has a BRCA mutation may
allow her to receive PARP inhibitor treatment . Olaparib was recently approved
by the FDA to treat women with recurrent ovarian cancer.
In August ASCO issued an updated policy statement on genetic and genomic testing. ( http://www.asco.org/press-center/asco-releases-updated-policy-statement-genetic-and-genomic-testing-cancer )
The more researchers understand the genetics of ovarian cancer the better they can develop drugs to treat specific mutations and the more personalized women's treatment can become.
Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!
Additional Sources:
Lynch Syndrome and Ovarian Cancer
I Have Lynch Syndrome
Ovarian Cancer : The Choice to Be BRCA Tested
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