Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome Fact Sheet for Healthcare Professionals

Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC) syndrome is associated with an increased risk for breast, ovarian, and other cancers. HBOC is usually caused by mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. BRCA mutations are responsible for approximately 3% of all breast cancers and 10% of all ovarian cancers. Identification of individuals with BRCA mutationsis important to allow them to take advantage of interventions that can significantly reduce their risk of cancerandallow for early detection of cancer if it develops.

Cancer Risks Associated with BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutations:

·         45-65% risk ofbreast cancer by age 70 for women with BRCA1orBRCA2 mutations, compared with a 12-13% risk for women in the general population.

·         10-39% risk of ovarian cancer by age 70 for women with BRCA1orBRCA2mutations, compared witha 1-2% risk for women in the general population

·         Increased risk for tubal, peritoneal, prostate, pancreatic, and male breast cancers

·         Increased risk for early onset breast or ovarian cancer (before age 50)

Individuals Are More Likely to Have a BRCA1orBRCA2 Mutation if They Havea Personal or Family HealthHistory of Any of the Following:

·         Breast cancer diagnosed at age 50 or younger in women

·         Triple negative breast cancer diagnosed at age 60 or younger in women

·         Epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer

·         Two diagnoses of breast cancer or two types of BRCA-related cancer in the same person

·         Breast cancer at any age in men

·         Pancreatic cancer or prostate cancer with Gleason score =7

·         Breast, ovarian, pancreatic, or prostate cancer among multiple blood relatives

·         Ashkenazi (Eastern European) Jewish ancestry

·         A known BRCA1 or BRCA2mutation in the family

Evidence-Based Clinical Recommendations for Identifying Patients at Risk Because of Family Health History Who Should Be Referred for Genetic Services

Recommendation for BRCA Mutation Testing for Breast and Ovarian Cancer Susceptibility from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) (2014)¹

The USPSTF recommends that primary care providers screen women who have family members with breast, ovarian, tubal, or peritoneal cancer with one of several screening tools designed to identify a family history that may be associated with an increased risk for potentially harmful mutations in breast cancer susceptibility genes (BRCA1 or BRCA2). These tools include the Ontario Family History Assessment Tool, Manchester Scoring System, Referral Screening Tool, Pedigree Assessment Tool and the FHS-7. Women with positive screening results should receive genetic counseling and, if indicated after counseling, BRCA testing.It is important to note that the screening results from different tools might not be consistent,because the criteria and algorithms used vary among tools. Furthermore, some individuals withBRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations might not be identified using these tools.

Other recommendations

Recommendations from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG)/National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) include specific personal and family health history referral criteria for BRCA genetics counseling and testing.

Genetic Counselingand Testing for HBOC

Insurance Coverage

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Local Coverage Determination (LCD) on BRCA1 and BRCA2 Genetic Testing allows for regional coverage of BRCA genetic counseling and testing for individuals with personal histories of breast, ovarian, and other cancers that fit specificcriteria for increased risk for a BRCA mutation.The Recommendation for BRCA Mutation Testing for Breast and Ovarian Cancer Susceptibility from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) (2014)¹addressesBRCA genetic counseling and testing in women who have a family health history of breast, ovarian, tubal, or peritoneal cancer but have not had these cancers themselves.The Affordable Care Act requires non-grandfathered health plans to cover without cost sharing preventive services with a USPSTF rating of “B” or higher, which includes the BRCA testing recommendation. Importantly, genetic counseling, if appropriate, is covered without cost sharing by many health plans under the Affordable Care Act when used in accordance with the USPSTF recommendation. And, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has advised insurance companies to also cover the BRCA test without cost sharing when used in accordance with the USPSTF recommendation.

Genetic Counseling

Genetic counseling helps individuals better understand their risk for hereditary cancer so that they can make informed decisions about genetic testing and follow-up care by:

·         Reviewing an individual’s personal and family medical history

·         Determining which family member is most appropriate for initial genetic testing in a family

·         Reviewing risk for HBOC and the chance of finding a mutation through genetic testing

·         Interpreting genetic test results and explaining what they mean for individuals and their relatives

·         Outlining medical management implications of a positive or a negative test result  

·         Providing referrals to medical specialists, support resources, and research opportunities

·         Addressing concerns about the privacy and confidentiality of personal geneticinformation

Benefits and Risks of Genetic Testing

·         Individuals with a positive test result can take steps to reduce their cancer risk through prophylactic surgery, medications that can prevent the onset of cancer, and/or earlier, more frequent screening

·         Genetic testing may provide a patient’s relatives with useful information, including which mutation relatives should be tested for.

·         A negative test result may provide a sense of relief and will help the patient avoid unneeded screens, medications, or surgeries.

·         Although the benefits of genetic testing are thought to greatly outweigh the disadvantages, test results may affect a person’s emotions, family relationships, finances, privacy,and medical choices.

·         Genetic information cannot be used to deny someone health coverage or employment, because of a federal law called the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA). However, this law does not cover life, disability and long-term care insurance, and only applies to asymptomatic individuals (not those with a personal history of HBOC-related cancer).

·         Medical treatments, such as prophylactic surgery, are not without risk and could have serious, long‐term implications.

Medical Management of Patients with HBOC

Several management options exist but the strength of evidence varies across types of interventions

Interventions noted by USPSTF¹ that may reduce risk include:

·         Bilateral mastectomy results in an 85-100% reduction in breast cancer risk

·         Oophorectomy or bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy results in a 69-100% reduction in ovarian cancer  risk and a 37-100% reduction in breast cancer risk

·         Chemoprevention with tamoxifen or raloxifene

·         Earlier, more frequent, or more intensive cancer screening

·            

In addition, NCCN recommendations include²:

• Increased breast surveillance through yearly MRI or mammogram starting at age 25
• Clinical breast examstwice per year starting at age 25
• Pelvic exam, trans-vaginal ultrasound, and/or CA-125 every 6 months starting at age 30 years or 5-10 years before earliest age of first diagnosis of ovarian cancer in the family (not determined to decrease morbidity or mortality)

References

1.        U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Risk Assessment, Genetic Counseling, and Genetic Testing for BRCA-Related Cancer in Women: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. Ann Intern Med. 2014; 160:271-281.

2.        National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Guidelines Version 2.2014 Genetics/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Breast and Ovarian. HBOC-A.