title: Premature menopause in patients with BRCA1 gene mutation.
abstract: This study was undertaken with regard to the gonadotropin theory of ovarian cancer advocated in the literature and was designed to disclose specific features of ovarian morphology in carriers of the BRCA1 gene mutation. We enrolled 171 patients and divided them into two groups: A (n=90)--operated for breast cancer (30 patients with and 60 without the BRCA1 mutation); B (n=81)--with the BRCA1 mutation qualified for preventive adnexectomy. According to the authors' classification described herein, some patients without the BRCA1 mutation retained "signs of estrogenization" in menopausal ovaries, revealing the role of estrogens as a factor promoting mammary carcinogenesis in these patients. A tendency to premature menopause was observed in BRCA1 mutation carriers of groups A and B as evidenced by the final menorrhea appearing at a younger age and almost total absence of "signs of estrogenization" in menopausal ovaries. It is concluded from these findings that earlier menopause in carriers of the BRCA1 mutation is associated with hypergonadotropic activity and may predispose to ovarian cancer at younger age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecological Surgery and Oncology of Adults and Adolescents, Pomeranian Medical University of Szczecin, Poland, ul. Powstańców Wielkopolskich 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland. IzGorska@sci.pam.szczecin.pl
authors.forename: Izabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rzepka-Górska
authors.forename: Bogusław
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tarnowski
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chudecka-Głaz
authors.forename: Bohdan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Górski
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zielińska
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tołoczko-Grabarek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019313:BRCA1 Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008594:Menopause, Premature / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation
chemical_list: D019313:BRCA1 Protein