The impact of a BRCA2 mutation on mortality from screen-detected prostate cancer

• Published in: British journal of cancer Vol. 111; no. 6; pp. 1238 - 1240
• Main Authors: AKBARI, M. R, WALLIS, C. J. D, TOI, A, TRACHTENBERG, J, SUN, P, NAROD, S. A, NAM, R. K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Nature Publishing Group 09.09.2014
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Biopsy; BRCA2 Protein - genetics; Case-Control Studies; Digital Rectal Examination; DNA Mutational Analysis; Genetic Testing; Genetics and Genomics; Genotype; Health sciences; Humans; Male; Medical prognosis; Medical research; Medical sciences; Metastasis; Middle Aged; Mortality; Multiple tumors. Solid tumors. Tumors in childhood (general aspects); Mutation; Neoplasm Grading; Nephrology. Urinary tract diseases; Prostate - pathology; Prostate cancer; Prostate-Specific Antigen - blood; Prostatic Neoplasms - diagnosis; Prostatic Neoplasms - genetics; Prostatic Neoplasms - mortality; Survival Rate; Tumors; Tumors of the urinary system; Urinary tract. Prostate gland; Urology; United States > US; Urinary system disease; Prostate disease; Mortality; Tumoral marker; Malignant tumor; Medical screening; BRCA2; Epidemiology; Prostate specific antigen; Cancerology; BRCA2 gene; Genetics; Mutation; Male genital diseases; Prostate cancer; Cancer; Tumor suppressor gene; PSA
• ISSN: 0007-0920; 1532-1827
• DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2014.428

Men with a BRCA2 mutation face an increased risk of prostate cancer. These cancers tend to have an aggressive nature and it has not yet been demonstrated that regular screening of BRCA2 carriers is associated with improved survival. We identified 4187 men who underwent a prostate cancer biopsy for an elevated PSA or an abnormal digital rectal examination between 1998 and 2010. We screened the BRCA2 gene in its entirety for mutations and we followed the men for death from prostate cancer until December 2012. The 12-year prostate cancer-specific survival rate was 94.3% for men without a BRCA2 mutation and was 61.8% for men with a mutation (P<10(-4); log-rank test). The survival of men with screen-detected prostate cancer and a BRCA2 mutation is much poorer than expected.