BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic test in high risk patients and families: counselling and management.

Hereditary breast cancer accounts for 5-10% of all cases of breast cancer and 10-15% of ovarian cancer and is characterised by dominant inheritance, early onset, the severity of the disease and bilaterality. About 30% of cases with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer have mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Women with a mutation in the BRCA1 gene have a 80-90% lifetime risk of developing breast cancer, and 40-65% chance of developing ovarian cancer.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors: usefulness of immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry and fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Background And Aims: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) constitute a group of primary mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, known for their diversity in clinical behavior and the difficulties in determining malignancy and prognosis. This retrospective study evaluated a series of GIST by means of immunohistochemical techniques, flow cytometry and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).

Methods: Nine patients with GIST were analyzed for tumor size, mitotic count and CD117, CD34, MIB-1 with immunohistochemistry.