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Hughes T, Rose AM. The emergence of Fanconi anaemia type S: a phenotypic spectrum of biallelic BRCA1 mutations. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1278004. [PMID: 38146508 PMCID: PMC10749362 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1278004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BRCA1 is involved in the Fanconi anaemia (FA) pathway, which coordinates repair of DNA interstrand cross-links. FA is a rare genetic disorder characterised by bone marrow failure, cancer predisposition and congenital abnormalities, caused by biallelic mutations affecting proteins in the FA pathway. Germline monoallelic pathogenic BRCA1 mutations are known to be associated with hereditary breast/ovarian cancer, however biallelic mutations of BRCA1 were long predicted to be incompatible with embryonic viability, hence BRCA1 was not considered to be a canonical FA gene. Despite this, several patients with biallelic pathogenic BRCA1 mutations and FA-like phenotypes have been identified - defining a new FA type (FA-S) and designating BRCA1 as an FA gene. This report presents a scoping review of the cases of biallelic BRCA1 mutations identified to date, discusses the functional effects of the mutations identified, and proposes a phenotypic spectrum of BRCA1 mutations based upon available clinical and genetic data. We report that this FA-S cohort phenotype includes short stature, microcephaly, facial dysmorphisms, hypo/hyperpigmented lesions, intellectual disability, chromosomal sensitivity to crosslinking agents and predisposition to breast/ovarian cancer and/or childhood cancers, with some patients exhibiting sensitivity to chemotherapy. Unlike most other types of FA, FA-S patients lack bone marrow failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tirion Hughes
- University of Oxford Medical School, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Anna M. Rose
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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2
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Should Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) Systematically Be Proposed to BRCA Pathogenic Variant Carriers? Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14235769. [PMID: 36497251 PMCID: PMC9739906 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14235769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past years, BRCA genes pathogenic variants have been associated to reproductive issues. Indeed, evidence indicate that BRCA-mutated patients are not only at higher risk of developing malignancies, but may also present a reduction of the follicular stockpile. Given these characteristics, BRCA patients may be candidates to fertility preservation (FP) techniques or preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) to avoid the transmission of this inherited situation. Since the success rates of both procedures are highly related to the number of oocytes that could be recovered after ovarian stimulation, predicted by ovarian reserve tests, they are ideally performed before the diagnosis of cancer and its treatment. Despite the specific reproductive challenges related to BRCA status, no international guidelines for the application of PGT and FP in this subgroup of patients is currently available. The present article aims to review the available data regarding BRCA carriers' ovarian reserve and PGT success rates in oncologic and non-oncologic contexts, to determine the actual indication of PGT and further to improve patients' care pathway.
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3
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C.E DK, C. VTT, J.C. EM, G.W.M. LE, Irene H, Mariette G, J.T. VGR, Willem V, D. LK, J.M. BF, M.E. BA. The Impact of BRCA1- and BRCA2 Mutations on Ovarian Reserve Status. Reprod Sci 2022; 30:270-282. [PMID: 35705781 PMCID: PMC9810575 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-022-00997-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate whether female BRCA1- and BRCA2 mutation carriers have a reduced ovarian reserve status, based on serum anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels, antral follicle count (AFC) and ovarian response to ovarian hyperstimulation. A prospective, multinational cohort study was performed between October 2014 and December 2019. Normo-ovulatory women, aged 18-41 years old, applying for their first PGT-cycle for reason of a BRCA mutation (cases) or other genetic diseases unrelated to ovarian reserve (controls), were asked to participate. All participants underwent a ICSI-PGT cycle with a long-agonist protocol for controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. Linear and logistic regression models were used to compare AMH, AFC and ovarian response in cases and controls. Sensitivity analyses were conducted on BRCA1- and BRCA2 mutation carrier subgroups. Thirty-six BRCA mutation carriers (18 BRCA1- and 18 BRCA2 mutation carriers) and 126 controls, with mean female age 30.4 years, were included in the primary analysis. Unadjusted median AMH serum levels (IQR) were 2.40 (1.80-3.00) ng/ml in BRCA mutation carriers and 2.15 (1.30-3.40) ng/ml in controls (p = 0.45), median AFC (IQR) was 15.0 (10.8-20.3) and 14.5 (9.0-20.0), p = 0.54, respectively. Low response rate was 22.6% among BRCA mutation carriers and 9.3% among controls, p = 0.06. Median number of retrieved oocytes was 9 (6-14) in carriers and 10 (7-13) in controls, p = 0.36. No substantial differences were observed between BRCA1- and BRCA2 mutation carriers. Based on several biomarkers, no meaningful differences in ovarian reserve status were observed in female BRCA mutation carriers compared to controls in the context of ICSI-PGT treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Drechsel Katja C.E
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - van Tilborg Theodora C.
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Eijkemans Marinus J.C.
- Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Lentjes Eef G.W.M.
- Central Diagnostic Laboratory (CDL), University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Homminga Irene
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Section Reproductive Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Goddijn Mariette
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Centre for Reproductive Medicine Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, AZ 1105 Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - van Golde Ron J.T.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, P.O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands ,GROW - School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Verpoest Willem
- Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Lichtenbelt Klaske D.
- Department of Genetics, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Broekmans Frank J.M.
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Bos Anna M.E.
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Buonomo B, Massarotti C, Dellino M, Anserini P, Ferrari A, Campanella M, Magnotti M, De Stefano C, Peccatori FA, Lambertini M. Reproductive issues in carriers of germline pathogenic variants in the BRCA1/2 genes: an expert meeting. BMC Med 2021; 19:205. [PMID: 34503502 PMCID: PMC8431919 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-021-02081-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Healthy individuals and patients with cancer who are carriers of germline pathogenic variants in the BRCA1/2 genes face multiple reproductive challenges that require appropriate counseling and specific expertise. MAIN BODY On December 5th-7th, 2019, patient advocates and physicians with expertise in the field of reproductive medicine, fertility preservation, and oncology were invited to "San Giuseppe Moscati" Hospital in Avellino (Italy) for a workshop on reproductive management of women with germline pathogenic variants in the BRCA1/2 genes. From the discussion regarding the current evidence and future prospective in the field, eight main research questions were formulated and eight recommendations were developed regarding fertility, fertility preservation, preimplantation genetic testing, and pregnancy in healthy carriers and patients with cancer. CONCLUSION Several misconceptions about the topic persist among health care providers and patients often resulting in a discontinuous and suboptimal management. With the aim to offer patient-tailored counseling about reproductive issues, both awareness of current evidences and research should be promoted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Buonomo
- Fertility and Procreation Unit, Gynecologic Oncology Program, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudia Massarotti
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DiNOGMI), School of Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy.,Academic Unit of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Miriam Dellino
- Gynecologic Oncology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Bari, Italy
| | - Paola Anserini
- Physiopathology of Human Reproduction Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Alberta Ferrari
- Department of Surgical Sciences, General Surgery III-Breast Surgery, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, and Department of Clinical Surgical Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Maria Campanella
- aBRCAdabra, National Patient Advocacy Association for carriers of BRCA genes mutation, Palermo, Italy
| | - Mirosa Magnotti
- ACTO Campania, Alleanza Contro il Tumore Ovarico, Avellino, Italy
| | - Cristofaro De Stefano
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, "San Giuseppe Moscati" Hospital, Avellino, Italy
| | - Fedro Alessandro Peccatori
- Fertility and Procreation Unit, Gynecologic Oncology Program, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Lambertini
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (DiMI), School of Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy. .,Department of Medical Oncology, UOC Clinica di Oncologia Medica, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy.
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Voskarides K. Broadening the spectrum of cancer genes under selection in human populations. FASEB Bioadv 2021; 3:275-277. [PMID: 33842852 PMCID: PMC8019256 DOI: 10.1096/fba.2020-00150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
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Long E, Zhang J. The Coupon Collection Behavior in Human Reproduction. Curr Biol 2020; 30:3856-3861.e1. [PMID: 32763175 PMCID: PMC7541714 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.07.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
There is evidence in humans for genetic influences on the probability (Pboy) that a birth yields a boy instead of a girl [1-6], suggesting a potential variation of Pboy among families. To quantify this variation, we analyze the survey data from over 300,000 UK Biobank participants primarily born between 1940 and 1970 [7]. Surprisingly, the proportion of male children in a family, or sex ratio (SR), has a significantly smaller among-family variation than expected under a uniform Pboy. We propose that this phenomenon results from reproductive behaviors reflecting a preference for having children of both sexes, much like the coupon collector's problem in probability theory where collecting a complete set of distinct coupons is considered a win. We find that the observed deficit in SR variation is explainable by 3.3% of "coupon-collecting" families. Consistently, significantly more families than expected have all children of the same sex except for the child born last. This trend is more pronounced in the late than the early half of the families in the data, suggesting an increasing popularity of this behavior. Analysis of a Dutch genealogical dataset spanning the past 4 centuries reveals higher-than-expected SR variations over much of the history; only after 1940 did the SR variation drop below the expectation. We conclude that a significant fraction of couples now exhibit the coupon collection behavior in reproduction such that SR is more homogeneous among families than expected by chance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erping Long
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Jianzhi Zhang
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
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7
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Turan V, Oktay K. BRCA-related ATM-mediated DNA double-strand break repair and ovarian aging. Hum Reprod Update 2020; 26:43-57. [PMID: 31822904 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmz043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Revised: 10/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oocyte aging has significant clinical consequences, and yet no treatment exists to address the age-related decline in oocyte quality. The lack of progress in the treatment of oocyte aging is due to the fact that the underlying molecular mechanisms are not sufficiently understood. BRCA1 and 2 are involved in homologous DNA recombination and play essential roles in ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM)-mediated DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair. A growing body of laboratory, translational and clinical evidence has emerged within the past decade indicating a role for BRCA function and ATM-mediated DNA DSB repair in ovarian aging. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE Although there are several competing or complementary theories, given the growing evidence tying BRCA function and ATM-mediated DNA DSB repair mechanisms in general to ovarian aging, we performed this review encompassing basic, translational and clinical work to assess the current state of knowledge on the topic. A clear understanding of the mechanisms underlying oocyte aging may result in targeted treatments to preserve ovarian reserve and improve oocyte quality. SEARCH METHODS We searched for published articles in the PubMed database containing key words, BRCA, BRCA1, BRCA2, Mutations, Fertility, Ovarian Reserve, Infertility, Mechanisms of Ovarian Aging, Oocyte or Oocyte DNA Repair, in the English-language literature until May 2019. We did not include abstracts or conference proceedings, with the exception of our own. OUTCOMES Laboratory studies provided robust and reproducible evidence that BRCA1 function and ATM-mediated DNA DSB repair, in general, weakens with age in oocytes of multiple species including human. In both women with BRCA mutations and BRCA-mutant mice, primordial follicle numbers are reduced and there is accelerated accumulation of DNA DSBs in oocytes. In general, women with BRCA1 mutations have lower ovarian reserves and experience earlier menopause. Laboratory evidence also supports critical role for BRCA1 and other ATM-mediated DNA DSB repair pathway members in meiotic function. When laboratory, translational and clinical evidence is considered together, BRCA-related ATM-mediated DNA DSB repair function emerges as a likely regulator of ovarian aging. Moreover, DNA damage and repair appear to be key features in chemotherapy-induced ovarian aging. WIDER IMPLICATIONS The existing data suggest that the BRCA-related ATM-mediated DNA repair pathway is a strong candidate to be a regulator of oocyte aging, and the age-related decline of this pathway likely impairs oocyte health. This knowledge may create an opportunity to develop targeted treatments to reverse or prevent physiological or chemotherapy-induced oocyte aging. On the immediate practical side, women with BRCA or similar mutations may need to be specially counselled for fertility preservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Volkan Turan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Uskudar University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.,Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Kutluk Oktay
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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Abstract
Between the 1930s and 1950s, scientists developed key principles of population genetics to try and explain the aging process. Almost a century later, these aging theories, including antagonistic pleiotropy and mutation accumulation, have been experimentally validated in animals. Although the theories have been much harder to test in humans despite research dating back to the 1970s, recent research is closing this evidence gap. Here we examine the strength of evidence for antagonistic pleiotropy in humans, one of the leading evolutionary explanations for the retention of genetic risk variation for non-communicable diseases. We discuss the analytical tools and types of data that are used to test for patterns of antagonistic pleiotropy and provide a primer of evolutionary theory on types of selection as a guide for understanding this mechanism and how it may manifest in other diseases. We find an abundance of non-experimental evidence for antagonistic pleiotropy in many diseases. In some cases, several studies have independently found corroborating evidence for this mechanism in the same or related sets of diseases including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Recent studies also suggest antagonistic pleiotropy may be involved in cardiovascular disease and diabetes. There are also compelling examples of disease risk variants that confer fitness benefits ranging from resistance to other diseases or survival in extreme environments. This provides increasingly strong support for the theory that antagonistic pleiotropic variants have enabled improved fitness but have been traded for higher burden of disease later in life. Future research in this field is required to better understand how this mechanism influences contemporary disease and possible consequences for their treatment.
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Fu Z, Moysich K, Ness RB, Modugno F. Gender of offspring and risk of ovarian cancer: The HOPE study. Cancer Epidemiol 2019; 64:101646. [PMID: 31835157 DOI: 10.1016/j.canep.2019.101646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the association between gender of offspring and epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). METHODS We compared gender of offspring between 664 incident EOC cases and 1531 controls participating in a population-based study conducted in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York from 2003-2008. Multivariable unconditional logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS Bearing a male offspring was associated with an 8 % lower EOC risk; bearing all boys was associated with an 11 % lower risk. Compared to bearing all girls, bearing all boys was associated with a 14 % decrease risk. Increasing number of male offspring increased the protective effect (adjusted-OR: 0.92, 0.91, 0.84, for 1, 2, and 3+ boys compared to all girls). Results where similar when limiting cases to invasive disease and to the high-grade serous histotype. CONCLUSION Fetal sex, which influences maternal hormonal milieu, may impact EOC risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuxuan Fu
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | | | - Roberta B Ness
- University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Francesmary Modugno
- Womens Cancer Research Program, Magee-Womens Research Institute and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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10
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Analysis of BRCA1/2 Mutations and Performance of Manchester Scoring System in High Risk Iranian Breast Cancer Patients: A Pilot Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER MANAGEMENT 2017. [DOI: 10.5812/ijcm.60392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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11
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Derks-Smeets IAP, van Tilborg TC, van Montfoort A, Smits L, Torrance HL, Meijer-Hoogeveen M, Broekmans F, Dreesen JCFM, Paulussen ADC, Tjan-Heijnen VCG, Homminga I, van den Berg MMJ, Ausems MGEM, de Rycke M, de Die-Smulders CEM, Verpoest W, van Golde R. BRCA1 mutation carriers have a lower number of mature oocytes after ovarian stimulation for IVF/PGD. J Assist Reprod Genet 2017; 34:1475-1482. [PMID: 28831696 PMCID: PMC5699993 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-017-1014-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2017] [Accepted: 07/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose The aim of this study was to determine whether BRCA1/2 mutation carriers produce fewer mature oocytes after ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization (IVF) with preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), in comparison to a PGD control group. Methods A retrospective, international, multicenter cohort study was performed on data of first PGD cycles performed between January 2006 and September 2015. Data were extracted from medical files. The study was performed in one PGD center and three affiliated IVF centers in the Netherlands and one PGD center in Belgium. Exposed couples underwent PGD because of a pathogenic BRCA1/2 mutation, controls for other monogenic conditions. Only couples treated in a long gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist-suppressive protocol, stimulated with at least 150 IU follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), were included. Women suspected to have a diminished ovarian reserve status due to chemotherapy, auto-immune disorders, or genetic conditions (other than BRCA1/2 mutations) were excluded. A total of 106 BRCA1/2 mutation carriers underwent PGD in this period, of which 43 (20 BRCA1 and 23 BRCA2 mutation carriers) met the inclusion criteria. They were compared to 174 controls selected by frequency matching. Results Thirty-eight BRCA1/2 mutation carriers (18 BRCA1 and 20 BRCA2 mutation carriers) and 154 controls proceeded to oocyte pickup. The median number of mature oocytes was 7.0 (interquartile range (IQR) 4.0–9.0) in the BRCA group as a whole, 6.5 (IQR 4.0–8.0) in BRCA1 mutation carriers, 7.5 (IQR 5.5–9.0) in BRCA2 mutation carriers, and 8.0 (IQR 6.0–11.0) in controls. Multiple linear regression analysis with the number of mature oocytes as a dependent variable and adjustment for treatment center, female age, female body mass index (BMI), type of gonadotropin used, and the total dose of gonadotropins administered revealed a significantly lower yield of mature oocytes in the BRCA group as compared to controls (p = 0.04). This finding could be fully accounted for by the BRCA1 subgroup (BRCA1 mutation carriers versus controls p = 0.02, BRCA2 mutation carriers versus controls p = 0.50). Conclusions Ovarian response to stimulation, expressed as the number of mature oocytes, was reduced in BRCA1 but not in BRCA2 mutation carriers. Although oocyte yield was in correspondence to a normal response in all subgroups, this finding points to a possible negative influence of the BRCA1 gene on ovarian reserve. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10815-017-1014-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- I A P Derks-Smeets
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Maastricht University Medical Center, P.O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,GROW - School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - T C van Tilborg
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - A van Montfoort
- GROW - School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maastricht University Medical Center, P.O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - L Smits
- Department of Epidemiology, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - H L Torrance
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - M Meijer-Hoogeveen
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - F Broekmans
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - J C F M Dreesen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Maastricht University Medical Center, P.O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,GROW - School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - A D C Paulussen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Maastricht University Medical Center, P.O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,GROW - School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - V C G Tjan-Heijnen
- GROW - School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Maastricht University Medical Center, P.O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - I Homminga
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 30.001, 9700 RB, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - M M J van den Berg
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Academic Medical Center, P.O. Box 22660, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - M G E M Ausems
- Department of Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - M de Rycke
- Center for Medical Genetics, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090, Brussels, Belgium
| | - C E M de Die-Smulders
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Maastricht University Medical Center, P.O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,GROW - School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - W Verpoest
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090, Brussels, Belgium
| | - R van Golde
- GROW - School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands. .,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maastricht University Medical Center, P.O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
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12
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Johnson L, Sammel MD, Domchek S, Schanne A, Prewitt M, Gracia C. Antimüllerian hormone levels are lower in BRCA2 mutation carriers. Fertil Steril 2017; 107:1256-1265.e6. [PMID: 28476184 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2017.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2016] [Revised: 03/15/2017] [Accepted: 03/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare antimüllerian hormone (AMH) levels in women at high risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer compared with healthy low-risk control women. DESIGN Prospective cohort. SETTING Not applicable. PATIENT(S) Reproductive-age women with a uterus and both ovaries were analyzed in four groups: BRCA1 mutation carriers, BRCA2 carriers, BRCA-negative women, and low-risk controls. INTERVENTION(S) Self-collected dried blood spot. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) AMH levels. RESULT(S) One hundred ninety-five women were included: 55 BRCA1 carriers, 50 BRCA2 carriers, 26 BRCA negative women, and 64 low-risk controls. After adjusting for confounders, BRCA2 carriers had AMH levels that were 33% lower than control women and an increased odds of having AMH <1 ng/mL. BRCA1 carriers and BRCA-negative women had AMH levels similar to control women. When analysis was restricted to regularly menstruating women younger than 40 years of age, BRCA2 carriers continued to demonstrate significantly lower AMH levels and increased likelihood of low AMH. Also, in this restricted group, BRCA-negative women demonstrated AMH levels that were 42% lower than control women. No difference in AMH was observed for BRCA1 carriers. CONCLUSION(S) We observed significantly lower AMH levels among BRCA2 carriers compared with low-risk control women. These results were stable across all models. BRCA-negative women also had lower AMH values, but only in models restricted to young regularly menstruating women. In contrast to earlier analyses, BRCA1 carriers had AMH values that were similar to low-risk control women, but this may be due to differences in the population studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Johnson
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Reproductive Endocrinology Associates of Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina.
| | - Mary D Sammel
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Women's Health Clinical Research Center, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Susan Domchek
- Basser Center for BRCA, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Allison Schanne
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Maureen Prewitt
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Clarisa Gracia
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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13
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Kamath-Loeb AS, Zavala-van Rankin DG, Flores-Morales J, Emond MJ, Sidorova JM, Carnevale A, Cárdenas-Cortés MDC, Norwood TH, Monnat RJ, Loeb LA, Mercado-Celis GE. Homozygosity for the WRN Helicase-Inactivating Variant, R834C, does not confer a Werner syndrome clinical phenotype. Sci Rep 2017; 7:44081. [PMID: 28276523 PMCID: PMC5343477 DOI: 10.1038/srep44081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2016] [Accepted: 02/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Loss-of-function mutations in the WRN helicase gene cause Werner syndrome- a progeroid syndrome with an elevated risk of cancer and other age-associated diseases. Large numbers of single nucleotide polymorphisms have been identified in WRN. We report here the organismal, cellular, and molecular phenotypes of variant rs3087425 (c. 2500C > T) that results in an arginine to cysteine substitution at residue 834 (R834C) and up to 90% reduction of WRN helicase activity. This variant is present at a high (5%) frequency in Mexico, where we identified 153 heterozygous and three homozygous individuals among 3,130 genotyped subjects. Family studies of probands identified ten additional TT homozygotes. Biochemical analysis of WRN protein purified from TT lymphoblast cell lines confirmed that the R834C substitution strongly and selectively reduces WRN helicase, but not exonuclease activity. Replication track analyses showed reduced replication fork progression in some homozygous cells following DNA replication stress. Among the thirteen TT homozygotes, we identified a previously unreported and statistically significant gender bias in favor of males (p = 0.0016), but none of the clinical findings associated with Werner syndrome. Our results indicate that WRN helicase activity alone is not rate-limiting for the development of clinical WS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashwini S. Kamath-Loeb
- Departments of Pathology, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Biochemistry, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Diego G. Zavala-van Rankin
- INMEGEN, National Institute of Genomic Medicine, Periferico Sur No.4809, Col. Arenal Tepepan, Del. Tlalpan Mèxico, D.F, C.P. 14610, Mexico
| | - Jeny Flores-Morales
- INMEGEN, National Institute of Genomic Medicine, Periferico Sur No.4809, Col. Arenal Tepepan, Del. Tlalpan Mèxico, D.F, C.P. 14610, Mexico
| | - Mary J. Emond
- Biostatistics, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Julia M. Sidorova
- Departments of Pathology, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Alessandra Carnevale
- INMEGEN, National Institute of Genomic Medicine, Periferico Sur No.4809, Col. Arenal Tepepan, Del. Tlalpan Mèxico, D.F, C.P. 14610, Mexico
| | - Maria del Carmen Cárdenas-Cortés
- National Institute of Medical Science and Nutrition Salvador Zubiran, Vasco de Quiroga 15, Colonia Sección XVI, Tlalpan C.P.14000, México D.F., Mexico
| | - Thomas H. Norwood
- Departments of Pathology, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Raymond J. Monnat
- Departments of Pathology, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Genome Sciences, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Lawrence A. Loeb
- Departments of Pathology, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Biochemistry, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Gabriela E. Mercado-Celis
- INMEGEN, National Institute of Genomic Medicine, Periferico Sur No.4809, Col. Arenal Tepepan, Del. Tlalpan Mèxico, D.F, C.P. 14610, Mexico
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14
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Importance of hereditary and selected environmental risk factors in the etiology of inflammatory breast cancer: a case-comparison study. BMC Cancer 2016; 16:334. [PMID: 27229687 PMCID: PMC4881056 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-016-2369-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2015] [Accepted: 05/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background To assess the importance of heredity in the etiology of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), we compared IBC patients to several carefully chosen comparison groups with respect to the prevalence of first-degree family history of breast cancer. Methods IBC cases (n = 141) were compared to non-inflammatory breast cancer cases (n = 178) ascertained through George Washington University (GWU) with respect to the prevalence of first-degree family history of breast cancer and selected environmental/lifestyle risk factors for breast cancer. Similar comparisons were conducted with subjects from three case–control studies: breast cancer cases (n = 1145) and unaffected controls (n = 1142) from the Cancer Genetic Markers of Susceptibility (CGEMS) study, breast cancer cases (n = 465) and controls (n = 9317) from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study, and ovarian cancer cases (n = 260) and controls (n = 331) from a study by University of Toronto (UT). Results The frequency of first-degree breast cancer family history among IBC cases was 17.0 % compared to 24.4 % for GWU breast cancer cases, 23.9 % and 17.9 % for CGEMS breast cancer cases and controls, respectively, 16.9 % and 12.6 % for WHI breast cancer cases and controls, respectively, and 24.2 % and 11.2 % for UT ovarian cancer cases and controls, respectively. IBC cases had a significantly lower prevalence of parous women than WHI breast cancer cases (OR = 0.46, 95 % CI:0.27–0.81) and controls (OR = 0.31, 95 % CI:0.20–0.49). Oral contraceptive use was significantly higher among IBC cases compared to WHI breast cancer cases (OR = 7.77, 95 % CI:4.82–12.59) and controls (OR = 8.14, 95 % CI:5.28–12.61). IBC cases had a significantly higher frequency of regular alcohol consumption (≥1 drink per day) compared to WHI controls (OR = 1.84, 95 % CI:1.20–2.82) and UT controls (OR = 1.86, 95 % CI:1.07–3.22) and higher (statistically non-significant) prevalence (21.3 %) compared to breast cancer cases from GWU (18.2 %) and WHI (15.2 %). Conclusions The prevalence of first-degree breast cancer family history among IBC cases was lower compared to breast and ovarian cancer cases but higher than unaffected individuals. Our multiple-case inflammatory and non-inflammatory breast cancer families may reflect aggregation of common genetic and/or environmental factors predisposing to both types of breast cancer. Our findings that oral contraceptive use and regular alcohol consumption may be associated with IBC warrant further investigations.
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15
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Shapiro AM, Miller-Pinsler L, Wells PG. Breast cancer 1 (BRCA1)-deficient embryos develop normally but are more susceptible to ethanol-initiated DNA damage and embryopathies. Redox Biol 2015; 7:30-38. [PMID: 26629949 PMCID: PMC4683388 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2015.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2015] [Accepted: 11/17/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The breast cancer 1 (brca1) gene is associated with breast and ovarian cancers, and heterozygous (+/−) brca1 knockout progeny develop normally, suggesting a negligible developmental impact. However, our results show BRCA1 plays a broader biological role in protecting the embryo from oxidative stress. Sox2-promoted Cre-expressing hemizygous males were mated with floxed brca1 females, and gestational day 8 +/− brca1 conditional knockout embryos with a 28% reduction in protein expression were exposed in culture to the reactive oxygen species (ROS)-initiating drug ethanol (EtOH). Untreated +/− brca1-deficient embryos developed normally, but when exposed to EtOH exhibited increased levels of oxidatively damaged DNA, measured as 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine, γH2AX, which is a marker of DNA double strand breaks that can result from 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine, formation, and embryopathies at EtOH concentrations that did not affect their brca1-normal littermates. These results reveal that even modest BRCA1 deficiencies render the embryo more susceptible to drug-enhanced ROS formation, and corroborate a role for DNA oxidation in the mechanism of EtOH teratogenesis. Heterozygous (+/−) brca1 conditional knockout (cKO) embryos develop normally. +/− brca1 cKO embryos have 28% less BRCA1 protein than wild-type (WT) littermates. Ethanol-exposed BRCA1-deficient mice have more oxidatively damaged DNA than WTs. Ethanol-exposed BRCA1 cKO embryos exhibit more embryopathies than WT littermates. BRCA1 protects the embryo from ethanol-enhanced oxidative stress—a novel role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron M Shapiro
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lutfiya Miller-Pinsler
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Peter G Wells
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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16
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Pelosi E, Forabosco A, Schlessinger D. Genetics of the ovarian reserve. Front Genet 2015; 6:308. [PMID: 26528328 PMCID: PMC4606124 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2015.00308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2015] [Accepted: 09/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Primordial follicles or non-growing follicles (NGFs) are the functional unit of reproduction, each comprising a single germ cell surrounded by supporting somatic cells. NGFs constitute the ovarian reserve (OR), prerequisite for germ cell ovulation and the continuation of the species. The dynamics of the reserve is determined by the number of NGFs formed and their complex subsequent fates. During the reproductive lifespan, the OR progressively diminishes due to follicle atresia as well as recruitment, maturation, and ovulation. The depletion of the OR is the major determining driver of menopause, which ensues when the number of primordial follicles falls below a threshold of ∼1,000. Therefore, genes and processes involved in follicle dynamics are particularly important to understand the process of menopause, both in the typical reproductive lifespan and in conditions like primary ovarian insufficiency, defined as menopause before age 40. Genes and their variants that affect the timing of menopause thereby provide candidates for diagnosis of and intervention in problems of reproductive lifespan. We review the current knowledge of processes and genes involved in the development of the OR and in the dynamics of ovarian follicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele Pelosi
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - David Schlessinger
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
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17
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Abstract
Oocyte aging has a significant impact on reproductive outcomes both quantitatively and qualitatively. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the age-related decline in reproductive success have not been fully addressed. BRCA is known to be involved in homologous DNA recombination and plays an essential role in double-strand DNA break repair. Given the growing body of laboratory and clinical evidence, we performed a systematic review on the current understanding of the role of DNA repair in human reproduction. We find that BRCA mutations negatively affect ovarian reserve based on convincing evidence from in vitro and in vivo results and prospective studies. Because decline in the function of the intact gene occurs at an earlier age, women with BRCA1 mutations exhibit accelerated ovarian aging, unlike those with BRCA2 mutations. However, because of the still robust function of the intact allele in younger women and because of the masking of most severe cases by prophylactic oophorectomy or cancer, it is less likely one would see an effect of BRCA mutations on fertility until later in reproductive age. The impact of BRCA2 mutations on reproductive function may be less visible because of the delayed decline in the function of normal BRCA2 allele. BRCA1 function and ataxia-telangiectasia-mutated (ATM)-mediated DNA repair may also be important in the pathogenesis of age-induced increase in aneuploidy. BRCA1 is required for meiotic spindle assembly, and cohesion function between sister chromatids is also regulated by ATM family member proteins. Taken together, these findings strongly suggest the implication of BRCA and DNA repair malfunction in ovarian aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kutluk Oktay
- Division of Reproductive Medicine and Laboratory of Molecular Reproduction & Fertility Preservation, Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York Innovation Institute for Fertility Preservation and IVF, New York, New York
| | - Volkan Turan
- Division of Reproductive Medicine and Laboratory of Molecular Reproduction & Fertility Preservation, Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York Innovation Institute for Fertility Preservation and IVF, New York, New York
| | - Shiny Titus
- Division of Reproductive Medicine and Laboratory of Molecular Reproduction & Fertility Preservation, Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York Innovation Institute for Fertility Preservation and IVF, New York, New York
| | - Robert Stobezki
- Division of Reproductive Medicine and Laboratory of Molecular Reproduction & Fertility Preservation, Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York Innovation Institute for Fertility Preservation and IVF, New York, New York
| | - Lin Liu
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
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18
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Kwiatkowski F, Arbre M, Bidet Y, Laquet C, Uhrhammer N, Bignon YJ. BRCA Mutations Increase Fertility in Families at Hereditary Breast/Ovarian Cancer Risk. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0127363. [PMID: 26047126 PMCID: PMC4457526 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0127363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2014] [Accepted: 04/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Deleterious mutations in the BRCA genes are responsible for a small, but significant, proportion of breast and ovarian cancers (5 - 10 %). Proof of de novo mutations in hereditary breast/ovarian cancer (HBOC) families is rare, in contrast to founder mutations, thousands of years old, that may be carried by as much as 1 % of a population. Thus, if mutations favoring cancer survive selection pressure through time, they must provide advantages that compensate for the loss of life expectancy. METHOD This hypothesis was tested within 2,150 HBOC families encompassing 96,325 individuals. Parameters included counts of breast/ovarian cancer, age at diagnosis, male breast cancer and other cancer locations. As expected, well-known clinical parameters discriminated between BRCA-mutated families and others: young age at breast cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer and male breast cancer. The major fertility differences concerned men in BRCA-mutated families: they had lower first and mean age at paternity, and fewer remained childless. For women in BRCA families, the miscarriage rate was lower. In a logistic regression including clinical factors, the different miscarriage rate and men's mean age at paternity remained significant. RESULTS Fertility advantages were confirmed in a subgroup of 746 BRCA mutation carriers and 483 non-carriers from BRCA mutated families. In particular, female carriers were less often nulliparous (9.1 % of carriers versus 16.0 %, p = 0.003) and had more children (1.8 ± 1.4 SD versus 1.5 ± 1.3, p = 0.002) as well as male carriers (1.7 ± 1.3 versus 1.4 ± 1.3, p = 0.024). CONCLUSION Although BRCA mutations shorten the reproductive period due to cancer mortality, they compensate by improving fertility both in male and female carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrice Kwiatkowski
- Centre Jean Perrin, Laboratoire d'Oncologie Moléculaire, 63011, Clermont-Ferrand, France
- Université Blaise Pascal—Laboratoire de Mathématiques, UMR 6620—CNRS, Campus des Cézeaux—BP, 80026–63171, Aubière cedex, France
- * E-mail:
| | - Marie Arbre
- Centre Jean Perrin, Laboratoire d'Oncologie Moléculaire, 63011, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Yannick Bidet
- Université Clermont Auvergne, Université d'Auvergne, BP 10448, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Claire Laquet
- Centre Jean Perrin, Laboratoire d'Oncologie Moléculaire, 63011, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Nancy Uhrhammer
- Centre Jean Perrin, Laboratoire d'Oncologie Moléculaire, 63011, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Yves-Jean Bignon
- Centre Jean Perrin, Laboratoire d'Oncologie Moléculaire, 63011, Clermont-Ferrand, France
- Université Clermont Auvergne, Université d'Auvergne, BP 10448, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
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19
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Breast and ovarian cancer predisposition due to de novo BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. Oncogene 2015; 35:1324-7. [PMID: 26028024 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2015.181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2015] [Revised: 04/02/2015] [Accepted: 04/07/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BRCA1 and BRCA2 are the two major genes predisposing to breast and ovarian cancer. Whereas high de novo mutation rates have been demonstrated for several genes, only 11 cases of de novo BRCA1/2 mutations have been reported to date and the BRCA1/2 de novo mutation rate remains unknown. The present study was designed to fill this gap based on a series of 12 805 consecutive unrelated patients diagnosed with breast and/or ovarian cancer who met the inclusion criteria for BRCA1/2 gene analysis according to French guidelines. BRCA1/2 mutations were detected in 1527 (12%) patients, and three BRCA1 mutations and one BRCA2 mutation were de novo. The BRCA1/2 de novo mutation rate was estimated to be 0.3% (0.1%; 0.7%). Although rare, it may be useful to take the possibility of de novo BRCA1/2 mutation into account in genetic counseling of relatives and to improve the understanding of complex family histories of breast and ovarian cancers.
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20
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Kim J, Skrzynia C, Mersereau JE. A pilot study of BRCA mutation carriers' knowledge about the clinical impact of prophylactic-oophorectomy and views on fertility consultation: a single-center pilot study. J Genet Couns 2014; 24:149-57. [PMID: 25120035 DOI: 10.1007/s10897-014-9747-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2014] [Accepted: 07/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BRCA mutation carriers will experience early surgically induced menopause following prophylactic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (PBSO). This pilot study aimed to investigate their (1) knowledge about the clinical impact of PBSO; (2) views on fertility consultation (FC)/fertility preservation (FP) treatment; and (3) difficulties in conceiving compared to non-carriers. A cross-sectional, single institution web-survey was performed at a university-based IVF center. Women aged 18-50 years who were screened for BRCA gene mutations from 2005 to 2013 were recruited via mail. Forty-one BRCA-positive and 110 BRCA-negative women completed the survey (response rate: 50 %). The knowledge about the reproductive impact of PBSO was limited, with the majority of women in this highly educated sample only identifying the correct response 64 % of the time. Among BRCA mutation carriers, 24 (59 %) had positive views about FC/FP treatments. A larger proportion of women with no children at the time of BRCA testing, and those who were non-white tended to have positive views toward FP. Women with, versus without, BRCA mutations were more likely to have difficulty in conceiving (p = 0.08). This well-educated group had limited knowledge about the reproductive clinical impact of PBSO, or the benefit of a FP before PBSO. Most women with BRCA mutations were interested in FC/FP treatment if they had not completed childbearing at the time of screening. Targeted referrals for FC at the time of BRCA screening may help women improve knowledge and allow improved decision-making about reproductive options.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Kim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA,
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21
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Perry JR, Hsu YH, Chasman DI, Johnson AD, Elks C, Albrecht E, Andrulis IL, Beesley J, Berenson GS, Bergmann S, Bojesen SE, Bolla MK, Brown J, Buring JE, Campbell H, Chang-Claude J, Chenevix-Trench G, Corre T, Couch FJ, Cox A, Czene K, D'adamo AP, Davies G, Deary IJ, Dennis J, Easton DF, Engelhardt EG, Eriksson JG, Esko T, Fasching PA, Figueroa JD, Flyger H, Fraser A, Garcia-Closas M, Gasparini P, Gieger C, Giles G, Guenel P, Hägg S, Hall P, Hayward C, Hopper J, Ingelsson E, Kardia SL, Kasiman K, Knight JA, Lahti J, Lawlor DA, Magnusson PK, Margolin S, Marsh JA, Metspalu A, Olson JE, Pennell CE, Polasek O, Rahman I, Ridker PM, Robino A, Rudan I, Rudolph A, Salumets A, Schmidt MK, Schoemaker MJ, Smith EN, Smith JA, Southey M, Stöckl D, Swerdlow AJ, Thompson DJ, Truong T, Ulivi S, Waldenberger M, Wang Q, Wild S, Wilson JF, Wright AF, Zgaga L, Ong KK, Murabito JM, Karasik D, Murray A. DNA mismatch repair gene MSH6 implicated in determining age at natural menopause. Hum Mol Genet 2014; 23:2490-7. [PMID: 24357391 PMCID: PMC3976329 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddt620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2013] [Revised: 11/19/2013] [Accepted: 12/06/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The length of female reproductive lifespan is associated with multiple adverse outcomes, including breast cancer, cardiovascular disease and infertility. The biological processes that govern the timing of the beginning and end of reproductive life are not well understood. Genetic variants are known to contribute to ∼50% of the variation in both age at menarche and menopause, but to date the known genes explain <15% of the genetic component. We have used genome-wide association in a bivariate meta-analysis of both traits to identify genes involved in determining reproductive lifespan. We observed significant genetic correlation between the two traits using genome-wide complex trait analysis. However, we found no robust statistical evidence for individual variants with an effect on both traits. A novel association with age at menopause was detected for a variant rs1800932 in the mismatch repair gene MSH6 (P = 1.9 × 10(-9)), which was also associated with altered expression levels of MSH6 mRNA in multiple tissues. This study contributes to the growing evidence that DNA repair processes play a key role in ovarian ageing and could be an important therapeutic target for infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- John R.B. Perry
- University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK,
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK,
- Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, London, UK,
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK,
| | - Yi-Hsiang Hsu
- Hebrew SeniorLife Institute for Aging Research and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA,
- Molecular and Integrative Physiological Sciences Program, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA,
| | - Daniel I. Chasman
- Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 900 Commonwealth Avenue East, Boston MA 02215, USA,
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA,
| | - Andrew D. Johnson
- The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA, USA,
- NHLBI Cardiovascular Epidemiology & Human Genomics Branch, Bethesda, MD, USA,
| | - Cathy Elks
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK,
| | | | - Irene L. Andrulis
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada,
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada,
| | - Jonathan Beesley
- Department of Genetics, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, QLD, Australia,
| | | | - Sven Bergmann
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland,
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland,
| | - Stig E. Bojesen
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry and the Copenhagen General Population Study, Herlev Hospital, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark,
| | - Manjeet K. Bolla
- Centre for Cancer Genetic Epidemiology and Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK,
| | - Judith Brown
- Centre for Cancer Genetic Epidemiology and Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK,
| | - Julie E. Buring
- Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 900 Commonwealth Avenue East, Boston MA 02215, USA,
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA,
| | - Harry Campbell
- Centre for Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, EdinburghEH8 9AG, UK,
| | - Jenny Chang-Claude
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany,
| | | | - Tanguy Corre
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland,
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland,
| | - Fergus J. Couch
- Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, and Health Science Research
| | - Angela Cox
- CR-UK/YCR Sheffield Cancer Research Centre, Department of Oncology, University of Sheffield, UK,
| | - Kamila Czene
- Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden,
| | - Adamo Pio D'adamo
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS ‘Burlo Garofolo’, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy,
| | - Gail Davies
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology
- Department of Psychology and
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK,
| | - Ian J. Deary
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology
- Department of Psychology and
| | - Joe Dennis
- Centre for Cancer Genetic Epidemiology and Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK,
| | - Douglas F. Easton
- Centre for Cancer Genetic Epidemiology and Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK,
| | | | - Johan G. Eriksson
- Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland,
- National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland,
- Folkhälsan Research Centre, Helsinki, Finland,
- University Central Hospital, Unit of General Practice, Helsinki, Finland,
- Vasa Central Hospital, Vasa, Finland,
| | - Tõnu Esko
- Divisions of Endocrinology, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA,
- Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA,
- Estonian Genome Center, University of Tartu, 51010Tartu, Estonia,
| | - Peter A. Fasching
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany,
| | - Jonine D. Figueroa
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology & Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Maryland, USA,
| | - Henrik Flyger
- Department of Breast Surgery, Herlev Hospital, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark,
| | - Abigail Fraser
- School of Social and Community Medicine, MRC Centre for Causal Analyses in Translational Epidemiology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK,
| | - Montse Garcia-Closas
- Divisions of Breast Cancer Research and of Genetics and Epidemiology, and the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK,
| | - Paolo Gasparini
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS ‘Burlo Garofolo’, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy,
| | | | - Graham Giles
- Centre for Molecular, Environmental, Genetic and Analytic Epidemiology, Melbourne School of Population Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,
- Cancer Epidemiology Centre, The Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,
| | - Pascal Guenel
- Environmental Epidemiology of Cancer, Inserm U1018, Villejuif, France,
| | - Sara Hägg
- Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden,
- Department of Medical Sciences, Molecular Epidemiology and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden,
| | - Per Hall
- Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden,
| | - Caroline Hayward
- Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, EdinburghEH4 2XU, UK,
| | - John Hopper
- Centre for Molecular, Environmental, Genetic and Analytic Epidemiology, Melbourne School of Population Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,
| | - Erik Ingelsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Molecular Epidemiology and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden,
| | | | | | - Katherine Kasiman
- Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden,
| | - Julia A. Knight
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada,
| | - Jari Lahti
- Folkhälsan Research Centre, Helsinki, Finland,
- Institute of Behavioural Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland,
| | - Debbie A. Lawlor
- School of Social and Community Medicine, MRC Centre for Causal Analyses in Translational Epidemiology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK,
| | | | - Sara Margolin
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden,
| | - Julie A. Marsh
- School of Women's and Infants’ Health, University of Western Australia, Australia,
| | - Andres Metspalu
- Estonian Genome Center, University of Tartu, 51010Tartu, Estonia,
| | - Janet E. Olson
- Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA,
| | - Craig E. Pennell
- School of Women's and Infants’ Health, University of Western Australia, Australia,
| | - Ozren Polasek
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Split, Croatia,
| | - Iffat Rahman
- Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden,
| | - Paul M. Ridker
- Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 900 Commonwealth Avenue East, Boston MA 02215, USA,
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA,
| | - Antonietta Robino
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS ‘Burlo Garofolo’, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy,
| | - Igor Rudan
- Centre for Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, EdinburghEH8 9AG, UK,
| | - Anja Rudolph
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany,
| | - Andres Salumets
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tartu, 51014 Tartu, Estonia,
- Competence Centre on Reproductive Medicine and Biology, 50410 Tartu, Estonia,
| | - Marjanka K. Schmidt
- Division of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology and
- Division of Molecular Pathology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands,
| | - Minouk J. Schoemaker
- Divisions of Breast Cancer Research and of Genetics and Epidemiology, and the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK,
| | - Erin N. Smith
- Department of Pediatrics and Rady Children's Hospital, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA,
| | - Jennifer A. Smith
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA,
| | - Melissa Southey
- Genetic Epidemiology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,
| | - Doris Stöckl
- Institute of Epidemiology II and
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Campus Grosshadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany,
| | - Anthony J. Swerdlow
- Divisions of Breast Cancer Research and of Genetics and Epidemiology, and the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK,
| | - Deborah J. Thompson
- Centre for Cancer Genetic Epidemiology and Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK,
| | - Therese Truong
- Environmental Epidemiology of Cancer, Inserm U1018, Villejuif, France,
| | - Sheila Ulivi
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS ‘Burlo Garofolo’, Trieste, Italy,
| | - Melanie Waldenberger
- Research Unit of Molecular Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München – German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany,
| | - Qin Wang
- Centre for Cancer Genetic Epidemiology and Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK,
| | - Sarah Wild
- Centre for Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, EdinburghEH8 9AG, UK,
| | - James F Wilson
- Centre for Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, EdinburghEH8 9AG, UK,
| | - Alan F. Wright
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK,
| | - Lina Zgaga
- Centre for Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, EdinburghEH8 9AG, UK,
| | | | - Ken K. Ong
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK,
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK,
| | - Joanne M. Murabito
- The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA, USA,
- Section of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David Karasik
- Hebrew SeniorLife Institute for Aging Research and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA,
| | - Anna Murray
- University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK,
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22
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To review recent publications examining BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations and their relationship with female fertility. RECENT FINDINGS Eight relevant studies of female fertility, five of which were published since January 2010 and the remainder in the preceding decade. Several mechanisms suggest that reproduction will be adversely affected among BRCA1/2 mutation carriers, with one study finding lower oocyte production, another reporting fewer births, and a third showing lower rates of pregnancies. Four articles reported no significant difference in the number of children ever born between carriers and noncarriers whereas a 2012 study showed elevated natural fertility among mutation carriers. SUMMARY This review shows that for most articles there are adverse or no fertility effects of being a BRCA1/2 mutation carrier. When no differences were detected for children-ever-born, those studies relied on current populations in which women had access to contraception. The sole analysis reporting elevated fertility was based on an historic population in which family planning methods were unavailable. Predictions that BRCA1/2 mutations adversely affect embryogenesis and genome integrity were not supported. The idea that BRCA1/2 mutations have antagonistic pleiotropic effects (enhancing fertility while reducing survival) was supported in the natural fertility study.
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Helle S, Lummaa V. A trade-off between having many sons and shorter maternal post-reproductive survival in pre-industrial Finland. Biol Lett 2013; 9:20130034. [PMID: 23445948 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2013.0034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A bias in reproduction towards sons, which are energetically more costly than daughters, has been suggested to shorten parental lifespan, but previous results have been mixed. Reproductive costs should be most evident in low rather than high resource settings, and are not expected to be severe in men, because women pay higher direct costs of reproduction. We, therefore, used demographic data from pre-industrial Finland to investigate whether the number of sons and daughters born affected their parents' post-reproductive survival and whether this was related to parent's resource availability. Irrespective of access to resources, mothers, but not fathers, with many sons suffered from reduced post-reproductive survival, and this association decreased as mothers aged. Our results provide evidence that Finnish mothers traded long post-reproductive lifespan for giving birth to many sons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuli Helle
- Section of Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku 20014, Finland.
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24
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Lin WT, Beattie M, Chen LM, Oktay K, Crawford SL, Gold EB, Cedars M, Rosen M. Comparison of age at natural menopause in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers with a non-clinic-based sample of women in northern California. Cancer 2013; 119:1652-9. [PMID: 23362014 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.27952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2012] [Revised: 11/05/2012] [Accepted: 11/19/2012] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Germline mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 (BRCA1/2) are related to an increased lifetime risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. Although risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy reduces the risk of both cancers, loss of fertility is a major concern. A recent study suggested an association between BRCA1 mutation and occult primary ovarian insufficiency. The objective of the current study was to determine whether BRCA1/2 mutation carriers have an earlier onset of natural menopause compared with unaffected women. METHODS White carriers of the BRCA1/2 gene (n = 382) were identified within the Breast Cancer Risk Program Registry at the University of California at San Francisco and compared with non-clinic-based white women in northern California (n = 765). The 2 groups were compared with regard to median age at the time of natural menopause before and after adjustment for known risk factors, and the role of smoking within each group was examined using the Kaplan-Meier approach for unadjusted analyses and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses for adjusted analyses. RESULTS The median age at the time of natural menopause in the BRCA1/2 carriers was significantly younger than among the unaffected sample (50 years vs 53 years; P < .001). The unadjusted hazard ratio for natural menopause when comparing BRCA1/2 carriers with unaffected women was 4.06 (95% confidence interval, 3.03-5.45) and was 3.98 (95% confidence interval, 2.87-5.53) after adjusting for smoking, parity, and oral contraceptive use. For BRCA1/2 carriers who were current heavy smokers (smoking ≥ 20 cigarettes/day), the median age at natural menopause was 46 years versus 49 years for nonsmokers (P = .027). CONCLUSIONS The BRCA1/2 mutation was associated with a significantly earlier age at natural menopause, and heavy smoking compounded this risk. Because the relationship between menopause and the end of natural fertility is considered to be fixed, these findings suggest the risk of earlier infertility among BRCA1/2 carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wayne T Lin
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94122, USA
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25
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Smith KR, Hanson HA, Mineau GP, Buys SS. Effects of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations on female fertility. Proc Biol Sci 2011; 279:1389-95. [PMID: 21993507 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2011.1697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Women with BRCA1/2 mutations have a significantly higher lifetime risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer. We suggest that female mutation carriers may have improved fitness owing to enhanced fertility relative to non-carriers. Here we show that women who are carriers of BRCA1/2 mutations living in natural fertility conditions have excess fertility as well as excess post-reproductive mortality in relation to controls. Individuals who tested positive for BRCA1/2 mutations who linked into multi-generational pedigrees within the Utah Population Database were used to identify putative obligate carriers. We find that women born before 1930 who are mutation carriers have significantly more children than controls and have excess post-reproductive mortality risks. They also have shorter birth intervals and end child-bearing later than controls. For contemporary women tested directly for BRCA1/2 mutations, an era when modern contraceptives are available, differences in fertility and mortality persist but are attenuated. Our findings suggest the need to re-examine the wider role played by BRCA1/2 mutations. Elevated fertility of female mutation carriers indicates that they are more fecund despite their elevated post-reproductive mortality risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken R Smith
- Department of Family and Consumer Studies, University of Utah, 225 South 1400 East Alfred Emery Building 228, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
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