title: Prevalence of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in male breast cancer patients in Canada.
abstract: Men who inherit a mutation in the BRCA2 gene carry a 6% risk of developing breast cancer by the age of 70. The proportion of male breast cancers attributable to BRCA mutations has not yet been determined with accuracy. We studied a series of 14 male breast cancer patients, unselected for family history or ethnicity, who were treated at a single regional cancer center in Canada. Family histories were obtained, and the men were tested for germ-line mutations of BRCA1 and BRCA2. Seven of these patients had a significant family history of breast cancer (i.e., at least one first- or second-degree relative with breast cancer diagnosed before age 70). Two of the men carried BRCA2 mutations, but no BRCA1 mutations were found. Both mutation carriers reported a positive family history and a personal history of cancer that preceded their diagnosis of breast cancer. Our results support the recommendation that male breast cancer patients who have a significant family history of breast or ovarian cancer should be offered genetic counseling and testing.
authors.affiliation: Queens University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wolpert
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Warner
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Seminsky
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Futreal
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Narod
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications; D018567:Breast Neoplasms, Male / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis / Q000379:methods; D019398:Genes, BRCA1; D024522:Genes, BRCA2; D005817:Genetic Counseling; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000379:methods; D018095:Germ-Line Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D010375:Pedigree; D015995:Prevalence; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors