Treatment Options for Patients with a Known Genetic Mutation (BRCA1/2)

Breast and ovarian cancers are the two most common types of cancer affecting a significant number of women across the world. However, many of these women find themselves facing the risk of these cancers solely because of their predisposition to genetic mutations. Patients with the genetic mutation BRCA1/2 have several treatment options that would be of value towards reducing their exposure to breast and ovarian cancers. The treatment options vary from one patient to another depending on the risk noted. The first treatment option is use of PARP inhibitors for metastatic breast cancer. Patients are recommended to consider Lynparza and Talzenna therapies, which helped in inhibiting any underlying risks of breast cancer caused by a BRCA mutation. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommends use of Lynparza therapy arguing that it can be used as a single agent treatment for patients predisposed to breast cancer.

The second treatment option involves participation in treatment clinical trials. Owens et al. (2019) note that randomized clinical trials play a central role in addressing some of the underlying issues that patients face regarding their genetic predisposition to specific types of cancer. The aim of participating in such trials is to find an inhibitor that would minimize any underlying risks associated with breast or ovarian cancers. The third treatment option involves injection of medication to induce menopause in young women or oophorectomy, which is the surgical removal of ovaries. The aim of this treatment option is to minimize estrogen production by fat cells and adrenal glands, which is one of the key contributors to the risks noted. Use of medication and oophorectomy is seen as one of the steps to lowering risks of both breast and ovarian cancers with the objective being to maximize patient health outcomes.

Reference

Owens, D. K., Davidson, K. W., Krist, A. H., Barry, M. J., Cabana, M., Caughey, A. B., ... & Mangione, C. M. (2019). Risk assessment, genetic counseling, and genetic testing for BRCA-related cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement.  JAMA ,  322 (7), 652-665.