BRCA mutation testing for first-degree relatives of women with high-grade serous ovarian cancer

Women with high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC) have a 20% chance of carrying a BRCA1 or 2 mutation. Not all undergo genetic testing, and there is a large legacy group of untested patients. Their female first-degree relatives (FDR) may not qualify for testing unless they have specific ethnicity, or personal/family cancer history. We conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis to evaluate risk-reducing strategies for these FDR who are ineligible for testing.

A Markov Monte Carlo simulation model estimated the costs and benefits of 3 strategies for female FDR of HGSC patients whose BRCA status is unknown: (1) no BRCA testing; (2) universal BRCA testing, followed by risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (RRBSO) for mutation carriers; (3) universal RRBSO, without BRCA testing. Effectiveness was estimated in quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gains over a 50-year time horizon. Sensitivity analyses accounted for uncertainty around various parameters.

Universal BRCA testing for female FDR of women with HGSC yielded a higher average QALY gain at acceptable cost compared to no BRCA testing, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $7888 per QALY. Universal BRCA testing was more effective and less costly than universal RRBSO (19.20 QALYs vs. 18.52 QALYs, and $10,135 vs. $14,231, respectively). Results were stable over wide ranges of plausible costs and estimates. Compliance with hormone replacement therapy had to exceed 79.3% for universal RRBSO to be the most effective strategy.

BRCA mutation testing should be offered to all female first-degree relatives of women with high-grade serous ovarian cancer when BRCA mutation status is unknown.