Get notified of page updates

PALB2 Gene Mutations: Cancer Risk

Learn about the cancer risks, screening, prevention and treatment options for people with inherited PALB2 mutations. Stay up to date by signing up for our community newsletter.
Glossary on
off

Cancer Risks Associated with Inherited Mutations

People with a mutation have a higher risk for several types of cancer. These cancers tend to happen at a younger age than in people without a mutation. 

The risks listed below are estimates based on different research studies. To understand more about your personal risk, we recommend that you speak with a genetics expert who can look at your personal and family history of cancer and help you decide on a plan for managing your risk.

Note that when we use "men" and "male" we are referring to people assigned male at birth. When we use "women" and "female" we are referring to people assigned female at birth.


It is important to note that cancer risks are estimates over the course of a person's lifetime. Your lifetime risk and risk over the next five years will vary depending on:

  • current age
  • sex assigned at birth
  • specific mutation
  • personal and family health history
  • diet, exercise, lifestyle and other factors

Cancer risk table

Cancer Type

Lifetime Risk with a PALB2 Mutation

Lifetime Risk for General Population

Notes

Breast cancer (people assigned female at birth)

35 - 53%

12.5%

Male breast cancer (people assigned male at birth)

<1% (0.9%)

0.1%

Risk for 2nd breast cancer diagnosis in women who were previously diagnosed with breast cancer

5 - 8% risk within 10 years of initial diagnosis

Applies to women who have not had bilateral mastectomy

Pancreatic cancer

2 -5%

1.7%

Ovarian cancer

3 - 5%

1.3%

Source: NCCN Guidelines: Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Breast, Ovarian, Pancreatic, vs. 1 2025


Last updated September 22, 2024