BRCA1 and BRCA2 are genes that normally help repair damaged DNA. Mutations in these genes significantly increase the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer.
Who Should Be Tested?
BRCA testing is recommended for:
- Women with family history of breast or ovarian cancer
- Patients diagnosed with breast cancer before age 50
- Men with breast cancer
- Patients with triple-negative breast cancer
Therapeutic Significance
Detection of BRCA mutations opens the door to targeted therapy with PARP inhibitors such as Olaparib and Niraparib, which show significant efficacy in patients with BRCA-positive tumors.