Study Suggests that Women with BRCA Mutations and Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Live Longer

In a recent study, researchers found that women with triple-negative breast cancer who also have a mutation (change) in a breast cancer gene (BRCA1 or BRCA2) are less likely to have a recurrence or die of breast cancer than women with this type of cancer who do not have a BRCA mutation. Triple-negative breast cancer is a fast-growing and difficult-to-treat cancer that does not have hormone receptors (for the hormones estrogen and/or progesterone) or HER2 receptors (a protein found on some breast tumors). This means that the cancer does not use estrogen, progesterone, or HER2 to grow and cannot be treated with hormonal therapy or treatments that block HER2.

In this small study of 77 women, researchers wanted to know how common BRCA gene mutations are for women with triple-negative breast cancer and whether these mutations affect risk of recurrence and long-term survival. They found that almost 20% of women with triple-negative breast cancer also had mutations in a BRCA gene. Then, the researchers estimated that about 48% of the women in this study without a BRCA mutation will have the cancer return within 5 years after diagnosis, compared with about 14% of the women with a BRCA mutation. Researchers also estimated that about 53% of the patients without a BRCA mutation will live at least 5 years after diagnosis, compared with about 73% of the women with a BRCA mutation.

What this means for patients

“We've known that women with BRCA mutations have a high rate of triple-negative breast cancer, and it's not surprising that women with triple-negative cancer have more BRCA mutations,” said lead author Ana Maria Gonzalez-Angulo, MD, Associate Professor of Breast Medical Oncology at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. “But, it is surprising that there's such a difference in survival, and it's not clear why.” Talk with your doctor about whether genetic testing for a BRCA mutation is appropriate based on your risk of breast cancer, and ask how the results could affect your prognosis and treatment.

What to ask your doctor