Genetic testing for Ovarian Cancer

 A research study at the University of Washington had discovered women with a mutation in certain "DNA repair" genes may benefit in the aspect of cancer cells replicating quickly. It is also said women with this mutation may also survive longer and stay cancer-free for a longer period compared to women without the mutation.

There is a clinical trial to test how women with a mutation in DNA repair gene might react to combination drug therapy. The study did not show how patients responded but did affect patient outcomes. The researchers sequenced DNA from blood or tumors from 1,200 women using a gene panel test called BROCA-HR. The results were: 26 percent of women had a mutation in DNA repair gene. Women without mutation were just over a year for progression-free survival, overall survival was about 3.5 year.

Having the mutation in BRCA1 gene resulted in 15.7 months of progression-free survival and overall survival was 55.3 months. Women who had a mutation in the BRCA2, survival period was 22 months progression-free and overall more than 75 months.

Women can be tested for these genes and are encouraged to find out. The treatment guidelines may not be altered due to the finding but knowing the benefits  of having one of these mutations may provide optimism for those who are affected.

I would definitely like to be tested for these genes. Being a woman is enough to motivate me to get tested. This type of research can take us a long way into creating drugs that can promote mutations for those women who are at risk of developing ovarian cancer.