OBJECTIVES: In the United Kingdom (UK), ovarian cancer (OC) is the fifth most common cancer and the fourth most common cause of cancer death among womenBRCA-mutations have been recognized as important factors in OC diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, this systematic literature review (SLR) explored the epidemiology of BRCA-mutated OC in the UK.

METHODS: Following PRISMA guidelines, MEDLINE and Embase were systematically searched for English publications between 2007 and February 2017. The latest OC data in England were also targeted (Office for National Statistics, 2015).

RESULTS: In 2015, 5,771 new cases and 3,325 deaths of OC were registered in England, making it the third most common female cancer. Of 1025 publications screened in the SLR, eight studies were included. A retrospective case review in North Wales showed high (47%) recurrence rates. Another study in recurrent OC showed that most of these recurrences were platinum-sensitive. Two studies reporting data specifically on BRCA-mutation carriers showed that these patients had a worse prognosis compared with those without BRCA-mutations. More specifically, a higher proportion of carriers with BRCA mutations presented with later stages of OC (77%) and had a significantly higher proportion of visceral metastasis (74% vs. 16% of those without mutations). Tumor and disease characteristics associated with BRCA-mutated OC were more comparable with those of high-grade rather than low-grade serous carcinoma. Among BRCA-mutated OC cases, BRCA1-mutations were more commonly reported (>60%) and associated with younger age at diagnosis than BRCA2 (median 50 vs. 58 years). Although more BRCA1-mutation carriers had advanced OC (70% vs. 24%), no significant survival differences were found between BRCA1 and BRCA2-mutation carriers.

CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first SLR on the epidemiology of BRCA-mutated OC in the UK. The limited evidence found suggests that BRCA-mutations may have distinct clinical and prognostic features that necessitate targeted disease management.