Genetik und prävention des ovarialkarzinoms

Ovarian cancer has the poorest prognosis of all gynaecological neoplasia. Germline mutations of the genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 are considered to be of substantial relevance in hereditary ovarian cancer. The multifactorial aetiology of this phenomenon accounts for the various phenotypes which are not only relevant in ovarian cancer. The clinical relevance of these syndromes increases with the option of predictive genetic testing for the predisposing genes. The lifetime-risk for ovarian cancer in women with mutations of the BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 genes is increased by upto 60%. The clinical implications of identifying patients at high risk necessitates the optimal use of primary or secondary prevention as proposed by the federally funded "Project for Familiar Breast and Ovarian Cancer".