Actionability Assertions

Gene Condition (MONDO ID) OMIM ID Final Assertion
BRCA1 N/A () 604370 Assertion Pending
BRCA2 N/A () 612555 Assertion Pending

Actionability Assertion Rationale

  • This topic was initially scored prior to development of the process for making actionability assertions. The Actionability Working Group decided to defer making an assertion until after the topic could be reviewed through the update process.

Actionability Scores

Outcome / Intervention Pair Severity Likelihood Effectiveness Nature of Intervention Total Score
Breast Cancer (BRCA1) / Surveillance 2 3A 2A 3 10AA
Breast Cancer (BRCA1) / Mastectomy 2 3A 3A 1 9AA
Ovarian Cancer (BRCA1) / Oophorectomy 2 2A 3A 1 8AA
Breast Cancer (BRCA2) / Surveillance 2 3A 2A 3 10AA
Breast Cancer (BRCA2) / Mastectomy 2 3A 3A 1 9AA
Ovarian Cancer (BRCA2) / Oophorectomy 2 2A 3A 1 8AA
View scoring key
Domain of Actionability Scoring Metric State of the Knowledgebase
Severity: What is the nature of the threat to health to an individual? 3 = Sudden death as a reasonably possible outcome
2 = Reasonable possibility of death or major morbidity
1 = Modest morbidity
0 = Minimal or no morbidity
N/A
Likelihood: What is the chance that the outcome will occur? 3 = >40% chance
2 = 5%-39% chance
1 = 1%-4% chance
0 = <1% chance
A = Substantial evidence or evidence from a high tier (tier 1)
B = Moderate evidence or evidence from a moderate tier (tier 2)
C = Minimal evidence or evidence from a lower tier (tier 3 or 4)
D = Poor evidence or evidence not provided in the report
N = Evidence based on expert contributions (tier 5)
Effectiveness: What is the effectiveness of a specific intervention in preventing or diminishing the risk of harm? 3 = Highly effective
2 = Moderately effective
1 = Minimally effective
0 = Controversial or unknown effectiveness
IN = Ineffective/No interventiona
A = Substantial evidence or evidence from a high tier (tier 1)
B = Moderate evidence or evidence from a moderate tier (tier 2)
C = Minimal evidence or evidence from a lower tier (tier 3 or 4)
D = Poor evidence or evidence not provided in the report
N = Evidence based on expert contributions (tier 5)
Nature of intervention: How risky, medically burdensome, or intensive is the intervention? 3 = Low risk, or medically acceptable and low intensity
2 = Moderate risk, moderately acceptable or intensive
1 = Greater risk, less acceptable and substantial intensity
0 = High risk, poorly acceptable or intensive
N/A
a Do not score the remaining categories

Prevalence of the Genetic Condition

For women, lifetime risk estimates indicate that 12.3% will develop breast cancer and 2.8% will die from it, while 1.4% will develop ovarian cancer and 1% will die from it. Among these breast and ovarian cancer cases, BRCA mutations have a prevalence of 3% and 10%, respectively.
View Citations

Nelson HD, Rongwei F, Goddard K, Mitchell JP, Okinaka-Hu L, Pappas M, Zakher B.. (2013) URL: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov., Daly MB, Axilbund JE, Buys SS, Crawford B, Friendman S, Garber JE, et al.. (2013) URL: education.nccn.org.

Clinical Features (Signs / symptoms)

BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations are associated with increased risks of breast, ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancers in women. These mutations are also associated with breast cancer and, to a lesser extent, prostate cancer, in males. Both sexes may also be at an increased risk of pancreatic cancer. BRCA mutations are associated with a strong family history of breast and ovarian cancers and are found more frequently in the Ashkenazi Jewish population.
View Citations

Nelson HD, Rongwei F, Goddard K, Mitchell JP, Okinaka-Hu L, Pappas M, Zakher B.. (2013) URL: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov., Lee EH, et al. (2010) PMID: 20376556

Natural History (Important subgroups & survival / recovery)

BRCA-related breast and ovarian cancers occur at a younger age, typically prior to age 50, and breast cancers are more likely to be “triple-negative” (i.e. estrogen and progesterone receptor and HER2 negative). Compared to non-carriers with breast cancer, BRCA1 mutation carriers have significantly decreased overall survival rates both in the short- and long-term, though similar association was not detected for BRCA2 mutation carriers.
View Citations

Nelson HD, Rongwei F, Goddard K, Mitchell JP, Okinaka-Hu L, Pappas M, Zakher B.. (2013) URL: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov., Lee EH, et al. (2010) PMID: 20376556

Description of sources of evidence:

Tier 1: Evidence from a systematic review or a meta-analysis or clinical practice guideline clearly based on a systematic review.
Tier 2: Evidence from clinical practice guidelines or broad-based expert consensus with non-systematic evidence review.
Tier 3: Evidence from another source with non-systematic review of evidence with primary literature cited.
Tier 4: Evidence from another source with non-systematic review of evidence with no citations to primary data sources.
Tier 5: Evidence from a non-systematically identified source.

Mode of Inheritance

Autosomal Dominant

Prevalence of Genetic Variants

1-2 in 500
BRCA mutations have an estimated 0.2-0.3% prevalence in the general population and 2.1% among women with Ashkenazi Jewish heritage.
Tier 1 View Citations

Nelson HD, Rongwei F, Goddard K, Mitchell JP, Okinaka-Hu L, Pappas M, Zakher B.. (2013) URL: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

Penetrance (Includes any high-risk racial or ethnic subgroups)

>= 40 %
Clinically significant mutations in BRCA1 are associated with a 46-57% risk of breast cancer and 40% risk of ovarian cancer by age 70. BRCA2 mutations are associated with a 50% risk of breast cancer and almost 20% risk of ovarian cancer by age 70.
Tier 1 View Citations

Nelson HD, Rongwei F, Goddard K, Mitchell JP, Okinaka-Hu L, Pappas M, Zakher B.. (2013) URL: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov., Chen S, et al. (2007) PMID: 17416853

Relative Risk (Includes any high-risk racial or ethnic subgroups)

Unknown
Information on relative risk was unavailable.

Expressivity

The pathologic and clinical characteristics of tumors can differ by the type of mutation, including progression and variability in estrogen, progesterone, and human epidermal growth factor receptor status.
Tier 3 View Citations

Nelson HD, Rongwei F, Goddard K, Mitchell JP, Okinaka-Hu L, Pappas M, Zakher B.. (2013) URL: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

Description of sources of evidence:

Tier 1: Evidence from a systematic review or a meta-analysis or clinical practice guideline clearly based on a systematic review.
Tier 2: Evidence from clinical practice guidelines or broad-based expert consensus with non-systematic evidence review.
Tier 3: Evidence from another source with non-systematic review of evidence with primary literature cited.
Tier 4: Evidence from another source with non-systematic review of evidence with no citations to primary data sources.
Tier 5: Evidence from a non-systematically identified source.

Patient Management

The American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) has developed an ACT sheet to help clinical decision-making when BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 pathogenic variant(s) have been identified as a secondary finding: http://www.acmg.net/ACMG/UploadedPDFS/PDFDocuments/Hereditary-Breast-and-Ovarian-Cancer-ACT-Sheet.aspx
Chemoprevention medications (e.g. tamoxifen, raloxifene) have been shown to reduce the incidence of breast cancer in high-risk women in the general population, but their effectiveness has not been assessed in the context of BRCA mutations.
Tier 1 View Citations

Nelson HD, Rongwei F, Goddard K, Mitchell JP, Okinaka-Hu L, Pappas M, Zakher B.. (2013) URL: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov., Moyer VA, et al. (2014) PMID: 24366376, (2013) URL: www.nice.org.uk.

Prophylactic surgery (e.g. bilateral mastectomy or salpingo-oophorectomy) has been shown to substantially reduce the risk for breast or ovarian cancer in both high-risk women and those who are BRCA mutation carriers. Breast cancer risk was reduced by 85-100% with mastectomy and by 37% to 100% with oophorectomy. Ovarian cancer risk was reduced by 69-100% with oophorectomy. Breast cancer-specific mortality was reduced by 81-100% after mastectomy and all-cause mortality was reduced by 55-100% after oophorectomy.
Tier 1 View Citations

Nelson HD, Rongwei F, Goddard K, Mitchell JP, Okinaka-Hu L, Pappas M, Zakher B.. (2013) URL: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov., Moyer VA, et al. (2014) PMID: 24366376, (2009) URL: www.health.govt.nz.

Surveillance

More frequent and intensive breast cancer screening, including clinical breast exams, mammography, and MRI starting at age 25. However, no screening methods have been shown to be effective at reducing breast cancer incidence among BRCA mutation carriers.
Tier 1 View Citations

Nelson HD, Rongwei F, Goddard K, Mitchell JP, Okinaka-Hu L, Pappas M, Zakher B.. (2013) URL: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov., Moyer VA, et al. (2014) PMID: 24366376, (2013) URL: www.nice.org.uk.

Screening methods for ovarian cancer have not been shown to be effective among women with BRCA mutations; however, annual gynecological exam, vaginal ultrasonography, and serum 125 (CA-125) can be used for screening.
Tier 1 View Citations
Male carriers are recommended to have an annual breast exam. Information on effectiveness was not provided.
Tier 2 View Citations

(2011) URL: www.guideline.gov.

Circumstances to Avoid

Oral contraceptive use has been shown to be protective against ovarian cancer. However, some studies have suggested that oral contraceptive use increases the risk of breast cancer in women with BRCA mutations, though this effect has not been consistently demonstrated.
Tier 2 View Citations

(2011) URL: www.guideline.gov., (2006) URL: www.guideline.gov.

Description of sources of evidence:

Tier 1: Evidence from a systematic review or a meta-analysis or clinical practice guideline clearly based on a systematic review.
Tier 2: Evidence from clinical practice guidelines or broad-based expert consensus with non-systematic evidence review.
Tier 3: Evidence from another source with non-systematic review of evidence with primary literature cited.
Tier 4: Evidence from another source with non-systematic review of evidence with no citations to primary data sources.
Tier 5: Evidence from a non-systematically identified source.

Nature of Intervention

The interventions identified in this report include prophylactic surgery to remove target organs, invasive screening tests, and medications with potential side effects.
Context: Adult

Chance to Escape Clinical Detection

Current screening procedures for women of average risk are not likely to detect breast and ovarian cancer at an early enough stage to cure the disease. The age at onset of breast cancer is typically prior to age 50, before the start of typical surveillance among average risk populations. Ovarian cancer is typically metastatic when diagnosed, thus risk-reducing BSO bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy is currently the only effective strategy to reduce the risk of dying from ovarian cancer.
Context: Adult
Tier 1 View Citations

Nelson HD, Rongwei F, Goddard K, Mitchell JP, Okinaka-Hu L, Pappas M, Zakher B.. (2013) URL: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov., Moyer VA, et al. (2014) PMID: 24366376

Description of sources of evidence:

Tier 1: Evidence from a systematic review or a meta-analysis or clinical practice guideline clearly based on a systematic review.
Tier 2: Evidence from clinical practice guidelines or broad-based expert consensus with non-systematic evidence review.
Tier 3: Evidence from another source with non-systematic review of evidence with primary literature cited.
Tier 4: Evidence from another source with non-systematic review of evidence with no citations to primary data sources.
Tier 5: Evidence from a non-systematically identified source.
Gene Condition Associations
OMIM Identifier Primary MONDO Identifier Additional MONDO Identifiers
BRCA1 604370
BRCA2 612555

References List

Chen S, Parmigiani G. (2007) Meta-analysis of BRCA1 and BRCA2 penetrance. Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. 25(11):1329-33.

Classification and care of people at risk of familial breast cancer and management of breast cancer and related risks in people with a family history of breast cancer. NICE (2013) URL: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg164

Daly MB, Axilbund JE, Buys SS, Crawford B, Friendman S, Garber JE, et al.. Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment Breast and Ovarian. National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCC). (2013) URL: https://education.nccn.org/node/78021

Lee EH, Park SK, Park B, Kim SW, Lee MH, Ahn SH, Son BH, Yoo KY, Kang D. (2010) Effect of BRCA1/2 mutation on short-term and long-term breast cancer survival: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Breast cancer research and treatment. 122(1):11-25.

Management of early breast cancer. Wellington (NZ) New Zealand Guidelines Group. Other (2009) URL: https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/publications/mgmt-of-early-breast-cancer-aug09.pdf

Moyer VA. (2014) Risk assessment, genetic counseling, and genetic testing for BRCA-related cancer in women: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. Annals of internal medicine. 160(4):271-81.

Nelson HD, Rongwei F, Goddard K, Mitchell JP, Okinaka-Hu L, Pappas M, Zakher B.. Risk Assessment, Genetic Couseling, And Genetic Testing for BRCA-Related Cancer Systematic Review to Update the U.S. Preventive Servicies Task Force Recommendation.. (2013) URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK179201/

Risk reduction and surveillance strategies for individuals at high genetic risk for breast and ovarian cancer. Other (2011) URL: https://www.guideline.gov/content.aspx?id=38601

Use of hormonal contraception in women with coexisting medical conditions. Other (2006) URL: https://www.guideline.gov/content.aspx?id=10924

Early Rule-Out Summary

This topic did not pass the early rule out stage due to insufficient evidence for actionability. However, the Actionability Working Group discussed and granted an exception to move this topic forward for a full evidence curation and summary report.

Findings of Early Rule-Out Assessment

  1. Is there a qualifying resource, such as a practice guideline or systematic review, for the genetic condition?
  2. Does the practice guideline or systematic review indicate that the result is actionable in one or more of the following ways?
  3. a. Patient Management

    b. Surveillance or Screening

    c. Circumstances to Avoid

  4. Is it actionable in an undiagnosed adult with the condition?
  5. Is this condition an important health problem?
  6. Is there at least on known pathogenic variant with at least moderate penetrance (≥40%) or moderate relative risk (≥2) in any population?