BRCA mutations and salivary gland cancer

wallycat

The
risk of developing cancer in a salivary gland might be higher in people
with mutations in either of two genes associated with breast and
ovarian cancer, according to a new study by researchers at The Ohio
State University Comprehensive Cancer Center -- Arthur G. James Cancer
Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC -- James).

Although salivary gland cancer is rare, this retrospective study
suggests it occurs 17 times more often in people with inherited
mutations in genes called BRCA1 and BRCA2, than those in the general
population.

"Further study is needed to confirm this preliminary result, but I
believe that a BRCA-positive patient with a lump in a salivary gland
should have that lesion evaluated as soon as possible," says co-author
Theodoros Teknos, MD, professor and chair of otolaryngology, director of
head and neck oncologic surgery, and the David E. Schuller, MD, and
Carole H. Schuller Chair in Otolaryngology at the OSUCCC -- James.

The findings are published in the journal JAMA Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

It is well known that women who inherit mutations in either of the
two genes have a higher risk of breast and ovarian cancer than women
without the mutation; men with the mutations are at higher risk of
breast cancer. The two mutated genes are also linked to prostate,
pancreatic and other cancers.

The study's principal investigator, Rebecca Nagy, MS, a certified
genetic counselor and clinical associate professor of human cancer
genetics at the OSUCCC -- James, recommends that individuals who carry a
BRCA mutation need to be made aware of this possible association.

"The finding should be considered during genetic counseling of
families with inherited BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations," says Nagy, who is
also immediate past president of the National Society of Genetic
Counselors. "In the future, patients with salivary-gland cancer and
their family members might be referred for BRCA testing, or carriers of
BRCA mutations might undergo surveillance for salivary gland cancers."

Cancers of the salivary glands are rare in the United States, with
about three cases occurring annually per 100,000 adults in the general
population (0.003 percent).

For this study, Nagy, Teknos, first-author and medical student Tim
Shen and their colleagues searched a large BRCA-gene-mutation database
maintained by the OSUCCC -- James Clinical Cancer Genetics Program for
salivary gland cancers. Out of 5,754 people with mutations in either the
BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, the researchers identified three cases of salivary
gland cancer (0.052 percent).

"I would like physicians and dentists to realize that BRCA mutations
carry risks for salivary gland cancer as well as breast cancer, and to
remember that salivary glands include not only the paired parotid glands
and submandibular glands but also innumerable minor salivary glands in
the oral cavity," Teknos says.

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Story Source:

The above story is based on materials provided by Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

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Journal Reference:

1. Tim K. Shen, Theodoros N. Teknos, Amanda E. Toland, Leigha Senter, Rebecca Nagy. Salivary Gland Cancer inBRCA-Positive Families. JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery, 2014; DOI: 10.1001/jamaoto.2014.1998
   

MelissaDallas

Interesting. I have a friend with rare salivary gland cancer, but neither of his parents in their 60s have had any cancers.

lekker

My maternal aunt died at 53 from a rare salivary gland Cancer - no cancer in her siblings who are now 72, 65 and 58.  My grandparents never had cancer and died at 88 and 96.  I understand that while it might not be significant in my family, they are finding new information all the time so please consider talking to a Licensed Genetic Counselor if you have a family history of cancer and it's been several years since you've either had or considered testing.  Remember when they used to say that only your maternal history was relevant?