Comparison of effectiveness of treatment of patients with sporadic and germline BRCA1-related ovarian cancer

Abstract

Objectives: Numerous reports suggest that the clinical course of ovarian cancer (OC) in BRCA, including BRCA1, mutation carriers (BRCA1-OC) is different than in patients with sporadic ovarian cancer (SOC). Most of the authors indicate more fa­vourable treatment results in patients with BRCA1-OC. The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of treatment of patients with advanced-stage (FIGO III/IV) SOC and BRCA1-OC.

Material and methods: Between 2004 and 2009, 957 OC patients were treated in Cracow Branch of Cancer Center, M. Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Institute, Poland. Germline BRCA1 mutation was found in 66 patients. To compare the effective­ness of treatment, the group of 47 advanced-stage BRCA1-OC patients was matched with the group of 47 advanced-stage SOC patients. Pairs of patients were matched in terms of the most important prognostic factors, i.e. stages according to FIGO, primary cytoreduction extent, tumour histologic subtype and grade, as well as year of diagnosis and treatment.

Results: The 5-year overall survival rate was 42.9% for BRCA1-OC patients and 34.3% for SOC patients (p = 0.354). Mean time to progression was 22.7 and 14.5 months for BRCA1-OC and SOC group, respectively (p = 0.05). Complete response to pri­mary surgery and first line chemotherapy was obtained in 42.5% and 37.9% of cases, respectively; the difference, however, did not reach the statistical significance.

Conclusions: Results of combined treatment in the group of BRCA1-related OC patients seem to be better than in the group of sporadic ovarian cancer patients.