Clinical characteristics of hereditary ovarian cancer (HOC) in Poland.

BACKGROUND: Hereditary ovarian cancer (HOC), as any genetic disease, may display clinical characteristics that depends on population. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to describe clinical characteristics of HOC in Polish population basing on analysis of the following features: age at onset, clinical staging, morphological grading and prevalence of serous adenocarcinoma. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The cases were selected basing on analysis of pedigree/clinical features and molecular studies of founder mutations of BRCA1 gene in Poland. RESULTS: The patient's age at diagnosis was ca 49-52 and was similar in all groups. The exception was the subgroup without mutations in group II (breast and ovarian cancers found in families) with mean age at diagnosis ca 46 years (n = 9). In patients with HOC without mutation of BRCA1 gene, lower FIGO stage and lower morphological grade were detected more frequently. The majority of HOC showed histopathological pattern of serous adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical features of HOC in Poland and in other countries are similar. 2. Introduction of DNA tests to the clinical and pedigree diagnostic criteria allows detection of subgroups of HOC with different clinical features.