Commentary on Diagnostics and treatment of BRCA-associated cancers with olaparib — expert position statement

Commentary on Diagnostics and treatment of BRCA-associated cancers with olaparib -expert position statementProteins encoded by the suppressor genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 play an essential role in repairing DNA damage.Reducing or inhibiting the activity of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes due to mutations or chromosomal deletions induces oncogenesis.BRCA gene mutations occur in many cancers with varying frequency, from approximately 25% of patients with ovarian cancer, through 5-10% of patients diagnosed with breast cancer, to several percent in prostate and pancreatic cancers.Patients diagnosed with the above-mentioned cancers and BRCA gene mutations show different clinical characteristics, including different disease course and sensitivity to some anticancer drugs.The presence of BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations is also a predictive factor for a new group of drugs, poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors.PARP inhibitors used in combination with other systemic anticancer therapies have improved the outcomes in patients with these cancers.These circumstances justify the use of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutation testing in clinical practice in patients with breast, ovarian, prostate, and pancreas cancers.The frequency of genetic tests performed in the above-mentioned cancers is increasing but still has not reached the required level.This applies to ovarian and breast cancers, in which the BRCA gene status determines appropriate anticancer treatment, as well as prostate and pancreatic cancers.