Clinical outcome in patients with primary epithelial ovarian cancer and germline BRCA1/2-mutation - real life data

BACKGROUND

We evaluated the clinical impact of germline (g)BRCA1/2-mutation on initial disease presentation, surgical implications, surgical morbidity and survival in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) undergoing debulking surgery (DS).

METHODS

Data of all consecutive EOC patients with stage III/IV, high-grade serous disease and known gBRCA1/2 status (gBRCA; non-gBRCA), who underwent DS at our department between 01/2011 and 06/2019 were analyzed. Associations between gBRCA-status and severe postoperative complications and survival were analyzed.

RESULTS

gBRCA-status was determined in 50.1% (612/1221) of all patients. gBRCA was present in 21.9% (134/612). Significant differences were observed in terms of median age (p = 0.001) and histology (high-grade serous histology gBRCA: 98.5%, non-gBRCA 76.2%; p < 0.001). gBRCA-status had no impact on intraoperative disease presentation, surgical complexity or complete resection rate (gBRCA: 74.4%, non-gBRCA: 69.0%; p = 0.274). gBRCA-status was not predictive for severe postoperative complication (gBRCA: 12.0%, non-gBRCA: 19.1%; p = 0.082). Median PFS and OS was 31/22 and 71/53 months in patients with/without gBRCA-mutation, respectively. gBRCA was a significant prognostic factor for PFS (HR 0.57 p < 0.001) and for OS (HR 0.64, p = 0.048) after adjusting for established prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONS

gBRCA-status had no impact on initial disease presentation, surgical results or postoperative complications. gBRCA patients have a significantly longer PFS but the impact on the long term prognosis is unclear. Complete resection remains the most important prognostic factor in patients with EOC independent of gBRCA-status.

65 YEARS OF THE DOUBLE HELIX: Genetics informs precision practice in the diagnosis and management of pheochromocytoma

Although the authors of the present review have contributed to genetic discoveries in the field of pheochromocytoma research, we can legitimately ask whether these advances have led to improvements in the diagnosis and management of patients with pheochromocytoma. The answer to this question is an emphatic Yes! In the field of molecular genetics, the well-established axiom that familial (genetic) pheochromocytoma represents 10% of all cases has been overturned, with >35% of cases now attributable to germline disease-causing mutations. Furthermore, genetic pheochromocytoma can now be grouped into five different clinical presentation types in the context of the ten known susceptibility genes for pheochromocytoma-associated syndromes. We now have the tools to diagnose patients with genetic pheochromocytoma, identify germline mutation carriers and to offer gene-informed medical management including enhanced surveillance and prevention. Clinically, we now treat an entire family of tumors of the paraganglia, with the exact phenotype varying by specific gene. In terms of detection and classification, simultaneous advances in biochemical detection and imaging localization have taken place, and the histopathology of the paraganglioma tumor family has been revised by immunohistochemical-genetic classification by gene-specific antibody immunohistochemistry. Treatment options have also been substantially enriched by the application of minimally invasive and adrenal-sparing surgery. Finally and most importantly, it is now widely recognized that patients with genetic pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma syndromes should be treated in specialized centers dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment and surveillance of this rare neoplasm.