title: Family history of breast cancer as a risk factor for ovarian cancer in a prospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A family history of breast cancer has been associated with increased ovarian cancer risk. However, few studies have assessed risk according to characteristics that suggest an inherited cancer susceptibility disorder, such as earlier-than-usual age at cancer diagnosis, family members with double primary cancers of different types, multiple relatives with cancer, and cancer in both members of paired organs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ovarian cancer risk was assessed according to a detailed breast cancer family history among 49,975 participants in the Breast Cancer Detection Demonstration Project Breast Cancer Defection Demenstration Project (BCDDP) Follow-up Study (1979-1998). In all, 362 incident ovarian cancers were identified during follow-up and rate ratios (RRs) were calculated by Poisson regression. RESULTS.: Breast cancer in a first- or second-degree relative was associated with increased risk of ovarian cancer (RR = 1.4; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.1-1.7). Having 2 or more affected first-degree relatives was associated with increased risk (RR = 1.8; 95% CI = 1.1-2.8), especially for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer before age 60 (RR = 4.2; 95% CI = 1.9-9.2) or with a personal history of breast cancer (RR = 3.7; 95% CI 1.8-7.7). Risk was also particularly high for women with 2 or more first-degree relatives with breast cancer and at least 1 affected relative diagnosed before age 50 (RR = 2.6; 95% CI = 1.4-4.8) or with bilateral breast cancer (RR = 4.2; 95% CI = 1.7-10).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A detailed breast cancer family history as well as an individual's age and personal history of breast cancer are useful for identifying women at elevated genetic risk of ovarian cancer.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Genetics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland 20852-7234, USA.
authors.forename: Neely
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kazerouni
authors.forename: Mark H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Greene
authors.forename: James V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Lacey
authors.forename: Pamela J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Mink
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schairer
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000235:genetics*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors