New research suggests women with a certain genetic mutation could have a higher risk of developing an aggressive type of uterine cancer even if their ovaries and fallopian tubes are removed.
Women with mutations in the BRCA1 gene who are considered having their ovaries and fallopian tubes removed for cancer-protection ( risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) should consider discussing with their doctor the benefits of having their uterus removed as well, a Society of Gynecologic Oncology news release reported.
The researchers looked at "525 women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations who had RRSO without a hysterectomy to prevent the development of both gynecologic and breast cancers," the news release reported.
Four of the 296 women with a BRCA1 mutation who did not have their uterus removed developed the rare but aggressive uterine cancer; this suggests that women in this group have a 2.1 percent risk of developing the cancer within the first decade after undergoing RRSO. This risk is about 26 times higher than the average population.
There was no indication of a higher risk of other forms of uterine cancer.
While the absolute risk is still relatively low, it is much higher than we would have expected for these aggressive uterine cancers," Noah D. Kauff, MD, senior author of the study and director of ovarian cancer screening and prevention on the gynecology service at Memorial Sloan Kettering, said in the news release. "Doctors should let their patients with BRCA1 mutations know that this report suggests they may be at risk for rare types of aggressive uterine cancer. However, whether or not a woman decides to have a hysterectomy at time of risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy may depend on her age, prior cancer history and other risk factors."
The study consisted of 296 women with the BRCA1 mutation and 226 with a BRCA2 mutation; three study subjects had mutations in both genes.
Women with a BRCA1 mutation are believed to have between a 39 and 46 percent chance of developing ovarian cancer and a 50 to 85 percent chance of developing breast cancer.
