Dr. Kurian on Association of Ovarian Cancer Risk With Mutations Detected by Multiple-Gene Germline Sequencing

Allison W. Kurian, MD, MSc, associate professor of Medicine and of Health Research and Policy, Stanford University School of Medicine, discusses an ongoing trial exploring the association of ovarian cancer risk with mutations detected by multiple-gene germline sequencing in 95,561 women.

A number of statistical methods were used to evaluate the risk of ovarian cancer, along with a panel of 25 genes. Results showed that approximately 14% of patients from the database had a genetic mutation, Kurian says. One-third of patients harbored unexpected genes, which are described as uncommon to appear on standard tests. An example of these included breast cancer genes.

A caveat to this study is that the sample was obtained from clinical practice versus a clinical trial, Kurian explains. Although it is suggested that this sample size is valid, further follow-up is needed.