Familial ovarian cancer. Update and clinical applications.

Background: Genetics plays a role in all cancers. Evidence exists for the presence of inherited genes associated with the development of ovarian cancer in three familial ovarian cancer syndromes: a site-specific ovarian cancer syndrome, a breast/ovarian cancer syndrome, and an ovarian cancer syndrome associated with hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer.

Methods And Results: The authors present an updated summary of recent advances within the field of ovarian cancer genetics and examine the extent to which this genetic information, at both an epidemiologic and molecular level, may be used to identify a subset of women who are likely to be at increased risk of developing ovarian cancer. In addition, the extent to which these data may be used to define methods of prevention or treatment for women at risk is discussed.

Conclusion: Women who are members of high risk ovarian cancer families should receive genetic screening and medical follow-up in an effort to reduce their overall chances of morbidity and death associated with the development of ovarian and other cancers. The construction of cancer family registries will help to identify women at risk and facilitate their entry into clinical trials and screening programs for ovarian cancer.