[Familial ovarian cancer syndrome]

This paper gives an overview of the familial ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer prone families defined as two or more first or second degree relatives with ovarian cancer, are of clinical importance because first or second degree family members of affected women are at risk of developing ovarian cancer. These women need surveillance including prophylactic oophorectomy in those with increased risk. Women with hereditary ovarian cancer are at the greatest risk. Familial ovarian cancer studies are also important in terms of research. They provide the best hope of identifying a gene involved in the genesis of ovarian cancer. There is good evidence that such a gene is likely to be involved in the development of non-familial ovarian cancer as well. This might be a clue to understanding the biology of ovarian cancer. Therefore ovarian cancer prone families should be identified and, since familial ovarian cancer is rare, available details about affected and non-affected family members should be registered at least at national level. The author set up the Hungarian Registry for familial ovarian carcinoma at the National Institute of Oncology Budapest.