Oral Contraceptive Use and Risk for Ovarian and Breast Cancer in BRCA Mutation Carriers

Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD

Meta-analysis results mirror those seen in the general population: reduced risk for ovarian cancer and little if any increase in risk for breast cancer.

In the general population, oral contraceptive (OC) use substantially reduces future risk for epithelial ovarian cancer while causing little if any increase in future risk for breast cancer. Now, investigators have conducted a federally sponsored systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effects of OC use on risk for ovarian cancer (four studies) and breast cancer (five studies) in women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations.

Combined analysis of women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations showed that OC use was associated with a 42% reduction in risk for ovarian cancer (odds ratio, 0.58; 95% confidence interval, 0.46–0.73). In contrast, for breast cancer, OC use was associated with a modest increase in risk that did not reach statistical significance (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 0.93–1.58). Findings did not vary appreciably between carriers of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. Data were insufficient to allow estimation of the effects of timing and duration of OC use.

Citation(s):

Moorman PG et al. Oral contraceptives and risk of ovarian cancer and breast cancer among high-risk women: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Oncol 2013 Oct 21; [e-pub ahead of print].