Cancer risks associated with BRCA1 and BRCA2 pathogenic variants

The associations of pathogenic variants (PVs) in BRCA1 and BRCA2 with cancers other than female breast and ovarian cancer remain uncertain. Precise risk estimates are required to inform effective cancer risk management. A study by the multinational Consortium of Investigators of Modifiers of BRCA1/2 investigated the associations between BRCA1/2 PV and risks of 22 types of cancer. The study found that the PVs are associated with increased risks of male breast, pancreatic, stomach, and prostate (only BRCA2 PVs) cancers but not with risks of other previously suggested cancers.