Ovary removal reduces risk of death from any cause in people with BRCA mutations

Questions To Ask Your Health Care Provider

• Do you recommend that I have my ovaries removed to prevent cancer?
• What are the potential risks and benefits of this procedure?
• When is the best time (at what age) to have this surgery?
• What else can I do to lower my risk of cancer?

Open Clinical Trials

The following studies are looking at the level of risk or risk-management for people with inherited BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations. Check study listings or contact the study team to see if you are eligible. 

Multiple cancers

• NCT04367675: Testing a Vaccine for Cancer Prevention in People with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 Mutation. This study looks at the new vaccine INO-5401 when used alone or combined with a second vaccine called INO-9012. The study will test the safety of the vaccine and determine whether it activates the immune system. A goal of this research is to reduce cancer risk in people with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation.
• The Risk Factor Analysis of Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer In Women with BRCA1, BRCA2 or PALB2 Mutations. This study seeks to improve researchers’ understanding of how hormonal, reproductive and lifestyle factors may be associated with cancer in this high-risk population.
• Identification and Analysis of Families With Genetic Susceptibility To Cancer Registry. The research laboratory at the Abramson Cancer Center is studying the genetic sources of cancer risk. A number of research projects are performed in collaboration with this registry. 

Breast cancer

• NCT04711109: Denosumab for Preventing Breast Cancer in Women with a BRCA1 Inherited Mutation (BRCA-P). This study tests if the effectiveness of the drug denosumab for preventing the development of breast cancer in women with an inherited BRCA1 mutation.

Prostate cancer

• NCT03805919: Men at High Genetic Risk for Prostate Cancer. This prostate cancer screening study uses MRI in high-risk men. This study is open to men with BRCA1, BRCA2 and other inherited mutations.

Ovarian cancer

• Validating a Blood Test for Early Ovarian Cancer Detection in High-risk Women and Families: MicroRNA Detection Study (MiDE). The goal of this effort is to develop a test to detect ovarian cancer. This study is enrolling people with BRCA1, BRCA2 and other mutations.
• NCT04251052: A Study to Compare Two Surgical Procedures in Women with BRCA1 Mutations to Assess Reduced Risk of Ovarian Cancer (SOROCk). This study examines whether removal of just the fallopian tubes reduces the risk of ovarian cancer nearly as much as removing both the ovaries and fallopian tubes among women with an inherited BRCA1 mutation. 
• NCT05287451: Risk Reducing Salpingectomy With Delayed Oophorectomy as an Alternative to Risk- Reducing Salpingo-oophorectomy in High Risk-Women to Assess the Safety of Prevention. This study examines outcomes of women with BRCA1, BRCA2, BRIP1, RAD51C and RAD51D mutations who remove their fallopian tubes and then remove their ovaries compared to women who undergo standard-of-care removal of their ovaries and fallopian tubes at the same time.
• NCT04794322: Developing a Test for the Detection of Ovarian Cancer. This study focuses on developing a test for early detection of ovarian cancer. Researchers will examine DNA from a washing of the uterus (womb), and proteins in the blood to see  whether patients with ovarian cancer can be distinguished from those with benign ovarian disease.

Pancreatic cancer

• NCT03250078: A Pancreatic Cancer Screening Study in Hereditary High Risk Individuals. The main goal of this study is to screen and detect pancreatic cancer and precursor lesions in individuals with a strong family history or genetic predisposition to pancreatic cancer. MRI and Magnetic cholangiopancreatography (MRI/MRCP) will be used to screen for early-stage pancreatic lesions.
• NCT02206360: Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection Program. This pancreatic cancer screening study uses esophageal ultrasound to screen for pancreatic cancer in high risk people. The study is open to individuals who have a family history of pancreatic cancer and an inherited mutation in BRCA1, BRCA2 or other genes.
• NCT03568630: Blood Markers of Early Pancreas Cancer.  This pancreatic cancer study involves blood samples taken over time to identify biomarkers of pancreatic cancer in high-risk people. The study is open to people with a mutation linked to increased cancer risk.
• NCT02478892: Preliminary Evaluation of Screening for Pancreatic Cancer in Patients with an Inherited Genetic Risk Due to a BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2 or ATM Mutation. This study uses MRI and endoscopic ultrasound to screen for pancreatic cancer in people with a BRCA1/2, PALB2 or ATM mutation. 

Additional risk-management clinical trials for people with inherited mutations may be found here.