Hereditary Ovarian Carcinoma: Cancer Pathogenesis Looking beyond BRCA1 and BRCA2

Abstract

Besides BRCA1 and BRCA2, several other inheritable mutations have been identified that increase ovarian cancer risk. Surgical excision of the fallopian tubes and ovaries reduces ovarian cancer risk, but for some non-BRCA hereditary ovarian cancer mutations the benefit of this intervention is unclear. The fallopian tubes of women with hereditary ovarian cancer mutations provide many insights into the early events of carcinogenesis and process of malignant transformation. Here we review cancer pathogenesis in hereditary cases of ovarian cancer, the occurrence of pre-invasive lesions and occult carcinoma in mutation carriers and their clinical management.