Salpingo-oophorectomy: benefits confirmed for some gynecologic breast cancers

In a study separately evaluating the effect of risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) on breast and gynecologic cancer risk in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers, the procedure was associated with lower BRCA1-associated gynecologic cancer risk and BRCA2-associated breast cancer risk, according to research published online Feb. 11 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Noah D. Kauff, MD, of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, and colleagues analyzed data from a prospective study in which 1,079 women, aged 30 and older, with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation chose RRSO or observation.

RRSO was related to an 85% reduction in BRCA1-associated gynecologic cancer risk and a 72% lower BRCA2-associated breast cancer risk. The results showed a trend toward protection against BRCA1-associated breast cancer and BRCA2-associated gynecologic cancer (invasive epithelial carcinoma of the ovary, fallopian tube, or peritoneum), but failed to reach significance.

Kauff ND, Domchek SM, Friebel TM, et al. Risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy for the prevention of BRCA1- and BRCA2-associated breast and gynecologic cancer: a multicenter, prospective study. J Clin Oncol. 2008;26:1331-1337.