Loss of heterozygosity on chromosome 13q12-q14, BRCA-2 mutations and lack of BRCA-2 promoter hypermethylation in sporadic epithelial ovarian tumors

The results suggest that BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 may act synergically in sporadic ovarian carcinomas with serous differentiation. The demonstration of BRCA-2 germline mutations in patients with ovarian carcinoma with LOH on chromosome 13q12-q14 and lack of a remarkable family history of cancer suggest that the proportion of ovarian carcinomas that result from hereditary predisposition may be higher than previously estimated.