New Findings From Northwestern University Describe Advances In Ovarian Cancer

According to a study from the United States, "About half of unaffected BRCA1/2 carriers have a negative family history, confounding efforts toward presymptomatic carrier identification. Ovarian cancer is preventable for known carriers but is otherwise highly lethal."

"Cost-effectiveness and gains in life expectancy are important factors in evaluating the desirability of population-based genetic screening, currently the only viable strategy to identify carriers With unrevealing family histories. Cost-utility analysis for a population-based genetic screening program offered to American Ashkenazi Jewish women aged 35-55 years measuring cancer incidence, life expectancy, and cost. Our model predicts that a genetic screening program would result in 28 11 fewer cases of ovarian cancer, with a life expectancy gain of 1.83 quality-adjusted life years among carriers. At a cost of $460 for founder mutation testing, the cost of the program is $8300 (discounted) per year of quality-adjusted life gained. In Populations with a high prevalence of BRCA1/2 founder mutations, genetic screening may be cost-effective When compared with recommended public health interventions such as mammographic screening," wrote W.S. Rubinstein and colleagues, Northwestern University.

The researchers concluded: "We advocate the initiation of a dialogue among Jewish stakeholders, genetics professionals, and public health leaders to determine whether a population-based BRCA1/2 genetic screening program Should be pursued. Genet Med 2009:11(9):629-639."

Rubinstein and colleagues published the results of their research in Genetics in Medicine (Cost-effectiveness of population-based BRCA1/2 testing and ovarian cancer prevention for Ashkenazi Jews: A call for dialogue. Genetics in Medicine, 2009;11(9):629-639).

For additional information, contact W.S. Rubinstein, Northwestern University, Feinberg School Medical, NorthShore University HealthSyst, Center Med Genetics, 1000 Cent. St., Suite 620, Evanston, IL 60201, USA.

The publisher of the journal Genetics in Medicine can be contacted at: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 530 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106-3621, USA.

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