Risk-Reducing Surgery Shows Improved Survival for Young BRCA Mutation Carriers with Breast Cancer
A recent retrospective study presented at the 2024 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) revealed that risk-reducing surgery (RRM) and risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) are associated with improved survival outcomes for young women with BRCA mutations and a history of early-onset breast cancer.
According to a retrospective study, patients with the BRCA gene who underwent risk-reducing mastectomy/salpingo-oophorectomy had improved survival outcomes.
The study, which analyzed data from 5290 patients across 33 countries, found that those who underwent RRM and/or RRSO experienced higher rates of overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and breast cancer-free interval (BCFI) compared to those who did not.
Improved Survival Rates across BRCA Subtypes
The benefits of risk-reducing surgery were observed across different subcategories of BRCA mutations and breast cancer types.
Specifically, a significant reduction in the risk of DFS and BCFI events was seen in those who underwent RRM, regardless of their BRCA gene, age at diagnosis, tumor subtype, tumor size, or nodal status. OS events were also reduced. RRSO was linked to a significant drop in the risk of BCFI and DFS, as well as OS events, regardless of tumor size, age at diagnosis, and nodal status.
While the study highlighted the overall benefits of risk-reducing surgery, it emphasizes the importance of personalized counseling.
“Our results showed that undergoing RRM and/or RRSO was associated with improved OS, DFS, and BCFI in this special clinical setting,” said Dr. Matteo Lambertini, lead study author and associate professor at the University of Genova – IRCCS Policlinico San Martino Hospital in Genova, Italy.
“These findings may help to improve the counseling on cancer-risk management strategies for BRCA carriers with young-onset breast cancer but should not be used to counsel BRCA healthy carriers nor BRCA carriers with a diagnosis of breast cancer at an older age.”
Key Study Findings
- Patients were required to have stage I to III invasive breast cancer, a diagnosis between January 2000 and December 2020, be less than 40 years of age at diagnosis, and have known germline-likely pathogenic/pathogenic variants in BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 genes.
- Patients were excluded if they had stage IV de novo breast cancer, a history of ovarian cancer or other malignancies without prior breast cancer, were BRCA VUS or BRCA healthy carriers, or had no information on uptake/timing of RRM and/or RRSO, or uptake before their breast cancer diagnosis.
Talk to Your Doctor About Your Risk
If you have concerns about your risk for breast cancer and carry a BRCA mutation, it’s important to talk to your doctor about your personalized risk and possible risk-reduction strategies. Genetic counseling can provide valuable information and guidance in making informed decisions about your health.