The First Nationwide Multicenter Prevalence Study of Germline BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutations in Chinese Ovarian Cancer Patients

Objective Subjects with germline BRCA1/2 mutations (g BRCA m) have an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer and enhanced sensitivity to platinum-containing agents and PARP (poly[ADP-ribose] polymerase) inhibitors. BRCA mutations in Asian patients are poorly understood compared with other populations. We aimed to investigate g BRCA m prevalence and characteristics in Chinese ovarian cancer patients. Methods We conducted the first nationwide multicenter g BRCA m prevalence study in China. Eight hundred twenty-six unselected ovarian cancer patients from 5 clinical centers were enrolled and tested for g BRCA m status. Medical data including age, family history, previous treatments, clinical diagnosis, histopathologic diagnosis, tumor grade, platinum sensitivity, and CA-125 test result were reviewed and collected. Results Prevalence rate or g BRCA m was determined as 28.5%, with 20.8% of patients harboring BRCA1 mutation and 7.6% harboring BRCA2 mutation. The group had a higher percentage of high-grade serous (73.0%), late-stage (III and IV [85.5%]) patients and a younger median age at diagnosis (52 years) compared with other reported studies. Twnety-seven BRCA1 and 17 BRCA2 mutations have not been reported previously in public databases or the literature. Statistically significant correlations were observed between g BRCA m status and family history ( P BRCA m status, and tumor stage ( P = 0.02). A numerical higher prevalence of g BRCA m in patients with high-grade serous histopathology (30.9%), platinum-sensitive phenotype (34%), and late-line chemotherapy was observed. Conclusions Germline BRCA1/2 mutations is common in Chinese ovarian cancer patients. This study implies that all ovarian patients should be tested for gBRCA m status regardless of family history and histopathology.