Risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy for Japanese women with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer: a single-institution 10-year experience

Minoru Nagashima & Koji Matsumoto et al.

Abstract

Background

For women diagnosed with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, the clinical guidelines recommend risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy at age 35–40 years or after completion of childbearing. However, there is limited information regarding the current status of risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy in Japan.

Methods

To clarify factors influencing decision-making for risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy among Japanese women diagnosed with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer and their clinical outcomes, we analyzed the medical records of 157 Japanese women with germline BRCA pathogenic variants (BRCA1 n = 85, BRCA2 n = 71 and both n = 1) at our institution during 2011–21. Specimens obtained from risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy were histologically examined according to the sectioning and extensively examining the fimbriated end protocol.

Results

The risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy uptake rate was 42.7% (67/157). The median age at risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy was 47 years. Older age, married state and parity were significantly associated with risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (P < 0.001, P = 0.002 and P = 0.04, respectively). History of breast cancer or family history of ovarian cancer did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.18 and P = 0.14, respectively). Multivariate analyses revealed that older age (≥45 years) and married state may be independent factors associated with risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy. Interestingly, the annual number of risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy peaked in 2016–17 and has increased again since 2020. The rate of occult cancers at risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy was 4.5% (3/67): ovarian cancer (n = 2) and serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (n = 1).

Conclusion

Age and marital status significantly affected decision-making for risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy. This is the first study to suggest possible effects of Angelina Jolie’s risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy in 2015 and the National Health Insurance introduced for risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy in 2020. The presence of occult cancers at risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy supports clinical guidelines recommending risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy at younger ages.

Authors
Minoru Nagashima, Tetsuya Ishikawa, Yuka Asami, Yusuke Hirose, Kanae Shimada, Satoshi Miyagami, Takashi Mimura, Shingo Miyamoto, Mamiko Onuki, Miki Morioka, Mikiko Izumi, Reiko Yoshida, Toshiko Yamochi, Kanae Taruno, Seigo Nakamura, Akihiko Sekizawa, Koji Matsumoto