Which inherited genetic mutations raise the risk of ovarian cancer?
There are several genes linked to an increased risk of ovarian cancer. Some of the most common hereditary cancer syndromes associated with ovarian cancer risk are described below. Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) syndrome. Two genes are associated with HBOC, BRCA1 and BRCA2 (BRCA stands for BReast CAncer). Women who inherit a BRCA mutation have a 15% to 40% chance of developing ovarian cancer and a 50% to 85% chance of developing breast cancer. Both women and men with BRCA2 mutations may have an increased risk of breast cancer or other types of cancer. Approximately one in 40 women with Ashkenazi Jewish heritage carry a mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes that increases their risk of ovarian and breast cancer. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are called tumor suppressor genes. A tumor suppressor gene makes proteins that prevent tumor formation by limiting cell growth. Mutations in a tumor suppressor gene cause a loss of the ability to restrict tumor growth and, as a result, cancer can develop.
