Long-term survival for pancreatic cancer: a matter of hope, courage, or genetics?
Year: 2011
Type: article
Abstract: question that has not been discussed. Can this cancer be related to a BRCA2 (Breast Cancer Type 2 susceptibility protein) mutation? Mutations in the BRCA gene family are well-known susceptibility factors for breast and/or ovarian cancers, as well as for far less frequent malignancies, such as prostate, testicular, pancreas, colon, bile duct, stomach cancers, and melanoma. The estimated lifetime risk for pancreatic carcinoma is quite low ( 5%) and is more likely related to BRCA2 mutations than to BRCA1 mutations. 2 Conversely, BRCA2 and BRCA1 mutations are estimated to increase the risk of pancreatic cancer by a factor of 3.5–10 and 2.2, respectively. There is some evidence that the impaired repair mechanisms related to the BRCA1/2 mutations increase the chemosensitivity and radiosensitivity of large breast cancers. 3 Moreover, other studies indicate that women developing a BRCA1/2 related ovarian cancer have improved survival compared with noncarriers, particularly if they had received platinum-based therapies. This increased chemosensitivity to chemotherapy in BRCA mutation carriers has also been reported for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer and BRCA2 mutations. 4 Interestingly, survival of these patients appears to be greater than predicted for all stages of disease. 5
Source: Europe PMC (PubMed Central)
Authors: C Peugniez, Ph Vennin, A Adenis
Language: English
Subfield: Oncology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2413406959