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. 2021 Aug 30;57(9):905.
doi: 10.3390/medicina57090905.

BRCA Genes and Related Cancers: A Meta-Analysis from Epidemiological Cohort Studies

Yen-Chien Lee  1   2 , Yen-Ling Lee  1 , Chung-Yi Li  3   4   5
Affiliations

BRCA Genes and Related Cancers: A Meta-Analysis from Epidemiological Cohort Studies

Yen-Chien Lee et al. Medicina (Kaunas). .

Abstract

Background and Objectives:BRCA1 and BRCA2 are genes located in different chromosomes that are disproportionately associated with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome. Their association with other cancers remains to be explored. Materials and Methods: We systematically reviewed cohort studies to explore the association of BRCA 1 and BRCA2 with various cancers except lung cancer. We searched PubMed, Medline (EBSCOhost) and relevant articles published up to 10 May 2021. The odds ratio, standardised morbidity rate and cancer-specific standardised incidence ratio were pooled together as relative risk (RR) estimates. Results: Twelve studies were included for analysis. BRCA mutation increased pancreatic and uterine cancers by around 3-5- and 1.5-fold, respectively. BRCA mutation did not increase brain cancer; colorectal cancer; prostate, bladder and kidney cancer; cervical cancer; or malignant melanoma. BRCA2 increased gastric cancer with RR = 2.15 (1.98-2.33). Conclusion: The meta-analysis results can provide clinicians and relevant families with information regarding increased specific cancer risk in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers.

Keywords: BRCA1; BRCA2; cancer; meta-analysis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Study selection scheme.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Meta-analysis of the association between BRCA gene mutation and head and neck cancer incidence. CI: confidence interval, RR: relative risk, SIR: cancer-specific standardised incidence ratio. Solid diamonds denote ratio point estimate from each study, open diamonds represent pooled overall results and the dashed line denotes the overall pooled point.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Meta-analysis of the association between BRCA gene mutation and gastrointestinal cancer incidence. CI: confidence interval, RR: relative risk, SIR: cancer-specific standardised incidence ratio. Solid diamonds denote ratio point estimate from each study, open diamonds represent pooled overall results and the dashed line denotes the overall pooled point.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Meta-analysis of the association between BRCA gene mutation and biliary and pancreatic cancer incidence. CI: confidence interval, RR: relative risk, SIR: cancer-specific standardised incidence ratio. Solid diamonds denote ratio point estimate from each study, open diamonds represent pooled overall results and the dashed line denotes the overall pooled point.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Meta-analysis of the association between BRCA gene mutation and the incidence of uterine and cervical cancers. CI: confidence interval, RR: relative risk, SIR: cancer-specific standardised incidence ratio. Solid diamonds denote ratio point.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Meta-analysis of the association between BRCA gene mutation and urologic malignancy incidence. CI: confidence interval, RR: relative risk, SIR: cancer-specific standardised incidence ratio, OR: odds ratio. Solid diamonds denote ratio point.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Meta-analysis of the association between BRCA gene mutation and thyroid cancer incidence. CI: confidence interval, RR: relative risk, SIR: cancer-specific standardised incidence ratio. Solid diamonds denote ratio point.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Meta-analysis of the association between BRCA gene mutation and the incidence of bone and connective tissue cancers. CI: confidence interval, RR: relative risk, SIR: cancer-specific standardised incidence ratio. Solid diamonds denote ratio point.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Meta-analysis of the association between BRCA gene mutation and haematologic malignancy incidence. CI: confidence interval, RR: relative risk, SIR: cancer-specific standardised incidence ratio. Solid diamonds denote ratio point.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Meta-analysis of the association between BRCA gene mutation and melanoma incidence. CI: confidence interval, RR: relative risk, SIR: cancer-specific standardised incidence ratio. Solid diamonds denote ratio point.
Figure 11
Figure 11
Meta-analysis of the association between BRCA gene mutation and the incidence of other cancers. CI: confidence interval, RR: relative risk, SIR: cancer-specific standardised incidence ratio. Solid diamonds denote ratio point. Other cancers include cancers of the peritoneum, intestinal tract, nasal sinuses, pleura, other genital organs, eye and several sites ill-defined in the studies; all cancers, excluding breast, ovarian and non-melanoma skin cancers.
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