WhatsApp

How BRCA Gene Changes Affect Survival in Ovarian Cancer

You are here >> Home > Latest Updates > Uro & Gynec > Ovarian Cancer > How BRCA…

Impact of BRCA Mutation Status on Survival in Patients with High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer A Nationwide Cohort Study.DOI 10.1001jamaoncol.2025.2345

High-grade serous ovarian cancer is the most common and aggressive type of ovarian cancer. Many patients ask why outcomes differ so much from one person to another. A large national study looked at one key factor: changes in the BRCA genes.

BRCA1 and BRCA2 are genes that help repair damaged DNA. When these genes do not work properly, cancer can develop. At the same time, cancers with these gene changes often respond better to certain treatments. This study followed more than 8,000 women diagnosed between 2015 and 2023. Researchers linked cancer records with genetic test results to see how long patients lived after diagnosis.

About one in five patients had a BRCA gene change. Women with BRCA2 changes lived the longest. Their average survival was about seven years. Women with BRCA1 changes also lived longer than those without any BRCA changes. Patients without BRCA mutations had the shortest survival time.

Treatment played a big role. Many patients today receive drugs called PARP inhibitors after chemotherapy. These drugs work especially well in cancers with BRCA changes. The study showed that BRCA carriers who received these medicines lived even longer. This confirms what many patients and doctors are already seeing in daily care.

What does this mean for patients? Genetic testing matters. Knowing BRCA status helps doctors estimate prognosis and choose the best treatment plan. It also helps families understand their own cancer risk. Testing is usually done with a blood or saliva sample and is now recommended for all patients with this type of ovarian cancer.

If you have ovarian cancer and have not had genetic testing, it may be worth asking your care team. The results can guide treatment decisions and offer clearer expectations about the future. Knowledge gives patients more control and more options during care.

Rate this post
Robotic Cancer Surgery
Best robotic cancer surgery in Ahmedabad
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.