Final Recommendation Statement:

Prevention of BRCA1/2-Related Cancer

Final Recommendation Statement: Risk Assessment, Genetic Counseling, and Genetic Testing for BRCA1/2-Related Cancer

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force released today a final recommendation statement on risk assessment, genetic counseling, and genetic testing for BRCA1/2-related cancer. The Task Force found that some women may benefit from risk assessment, counseling, and testing for the rare genetic mutation. To view the recommendation, the evidence on which it is based, and a summary for clinicians, please go here. The final recommendation statement can also be found in the August 20, 2019 online issue of JAMA.

The Final Recommendation Statement Is Available

FINAL RECOMMENDATION SUMMARY

See the full statement

Population

Recommendation

Grade

Women with a personal or family history of breast, ovarian, tubal, or peritoneal cancer or an ancestry associated with BRCA1/2 gene mutation

The USPSTF recommends that primary care clinicians assess women with a personal or family history of breast, ovarian, tubal, or peritoneal cancer or who have an ancestry associated with breast cancer susceptibility 1 and 2 (BRCA1/2) gene mutations with an appropriate brief familial risk assessment tool. Women with a positive result on the risk assessment tool should receive genetic counseling and, if indicated after counseling, genetic testing.

Women whose personal or family history or ancestry is not associated with potential harmful BRCA1/2gene mutations

The USPSTF recommends against routine risk assessment, genetic counseling, or genetic testing for women whose personal or family history or ancestry is not associated with potentially harmful BRCA1/2 gene mutations.

WHY THIS MATTERS

“There are several steps women can take to find out if they are at increased risk for BRCA gene mutations and if genetic counseling and BRCA testing is needed,” says Task Force member Carol M. Mangione, M.D., M.S.P.H. “Women who have a personal or family history of certain types of cancers, or have ancestry associated with the BRCA mutations should discuss their risk with their clinician, and, if indicated, undergo counseling and potentially genetic testing. Because these tests are not without harms, testing for BRCAmutations in women without these risk factors is not recommended.”