Breast Cancer Gene may Increase Risk of Uterine Cancer

A recent study conducted by researchers from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York suggests that a faulty breast cancer gene in women could dramatically increase their risk for uterine tumors.

The study showed that nearly 300 women with the bad BRCA1 gene showed aggressive uterine cancers years following preventative surgeries to remove their ovaries in four cases. In fact, the rate is 26 times greater than expected.

"One can happen. Two all of a sudden raises eyebrows and four is highly suspicious," said Dr. Noah Kauff of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, via wral.com.

The findings were reported at a cancer conference Monday in Florida, suggesting the first link between the two health issues.

"It's important for women to have that information ... but I think it's too early to strongly recommend to patients that they undergo a hysterectomy" until more research confirms the finding, said Dr. Karen Lu, a specialist in women's cancers at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, via Montrealgazette.com.

Statistics show that around 1 in 400 women in the U.S., with higher amounts coming from those of eastern European decent, carry the faulty BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, which greatly increases the risk of both breast and ovarian cancers. Doctors advise that those at higher risks be screened at a young age to better detect any malformations and provide the best treatments early on.

Kauf examined 1,200 women diagnosed with BRCA gene mutations since 1995 at Sloan Kettering. Doctors were able to track 525 of them for many years following the surgery that removed their ovaries but left the uterus intact.

As the vast majority of uterine cancers are low-risk and can be cured with surgery, alone, more aggressive forms-which make up 10 to 15 percent of cases-are responsible for more than half of uterine cancer deaths.

More information regarding the findings were discussed Monday at the Society of Gynecologic Oncology's annual meeting in Tampa, Fla.