title: BRCA-associated ovarian cancer: from molecular genetics to risk management.
abstract: Ovarian cancer (OC) mostly arises sporadically, but a fraction of cases are associated with mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. The presence of a BRCA mutation in OC patients has been suggested as a prognostic and predictive factor. In addition, the identification of asymptomatic carriers of such mutations offers an unprecedented opportunity for OC prevention. This review is aimed at exploring the current knowledge on epidemiological and molecular aspects of BRCA-associated OC predisposition, on pathology and clinical behavior of OC occurring in BRCA mutation carriers, and on the available options for managing asymptomatic carriers.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche, Unità di Genetica Medica, Università di Bologna, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, Via Massarenti 9 [Pad. 11, 2° Piano], 40138 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8917-3634
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Girolimetti
authors.affiliation: SSD Oncologia Ginecologica, AOU di Bologna, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna Myriam
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Perrone
authors.affiliation: UO Anatomia Patologica, AOU di Bologna, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Santini
authors.affiliation: SSD Oncologia Medica, AOU di Bologna, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6404-8084
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barbieri
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento Di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali, Università del Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy.
authors.forename: Flora
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3379-7469
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.affiliation: UO Genetica Medica, AOU di Bologna, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.affiliation: SSD Oncologia Medica, AOU di Bologna, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zamagni
authors.affiliation: SSD Oncologia Ginecologica, AOU di Bologna, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Pierandrea
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Iaco
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche, Unità di Genetica Medica, Università di Bologna, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, Via Massarenti 9 [Pad. 11, 2° Piano], 40138 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1229-9006
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gasparre
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche, Unità di Genetica Medica, Università di Bologna, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, Via Massarenti 9 [Pad. 11, 2° Piano], 40138 Bologna, Italy ; UO Genetica Medica, AOU di Bologna, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6792-3921
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Turchetti
mesh_terms: D019313:BRCA1 Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D024682:BRCA2 Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D018095:Germ-Line Mutation; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D019313:BRCA1 Protein; D024682:BRCA2 Protein; C551750:BRCA2 protein, human