The following is a summary of “Central nervous system metastases in breast cancer patients with germline BRCA pathogenic variants compared to non-carriers: a matched-pair analysis,” published in the February 2024 issue of Oncology by Berliner et al.
Breast cancer frequently leads to central nervous system (CNS) metastases, significantly impacting patient survival. Germline pathogenic variants (PVs) in BRCA1/2 genes are common genetic risk factors associated with adverse prognostic indicators. This retrospective cohort study aimed to analyze the characteristics and outcomes of CNS metastases in breast cancer patients harboring germline BRCA1/2 mutations. A cohort of 75 breast cancer patients with CNS metastases diagnosed between 2006 and 2021 was examined, comparing those with BRCA1/2 mutations (n = 25) to non-carriers (n = 50) after propensity score matching for tumor receptor status and patient age.
Patients with BRCA1/2 mutations exhibited a higher prevalence of high-grade tumors, younger age at CNS disease diagnosis, and better performance status. While treatment approaches did not significantly differ between groups, BRCA1/2 mutation carriers were more likely to be involved in the temporal lobe and leptomeninges. However, their survival following CNS disease diagnosis was notably shorter compared to non-carriers. This study provides novel insights into the distinctive impact of germline BRCA1/2 mutations on the characteristics and prognosis of CNS metastatic breast cancer.
Source: bmccancer.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12885-024-11975-7