Dr. Chase on the Importance of Genetic Testing for BRCA Mutations in Ovarian Cancer

Dana Chase, MD, FACOG, gynecologic oncologist, Arizona Oncology, assistant professor,University of Arizona College of Medicine, discusses the importance of utilizing genetic testing for BRCA mutations in ovarian cancer

Approximately 15% of patients with ovarian cancer harbor an inherited, germline BRCA mutation, Chase says. Utilizing genetic testing to identify these patients is important because the presence of germline BRCA mutations increases the patient’s risk for other types of cancers, such as pancreatic or breast cancers, Chase explains. Moreover, because inherited BRCA mutations also put the patient’s family members at risk for ​inheritable cancers, identification of such mutations allows family members to undergo risk-reducing surgery, Chase adds.

Additionally, biomarker-specific treatments are available for patients with ovarian cancer who harbor hereditary mutations. As such, the results of genetic testing could inform treatment selection, Chase concludes.