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  • Test code: 50002
  • Turnaround time:
    5–12 calendar days (7 days on average)
  • Preferred specimen:
    3mL whole blood in a purple-top EDTA tube (K2EDTA or K3EDTA)
  • Alternate specimens:
    Saliva. Assisted saliva and gDNA are not accepted
  • Sample requirements
  • Request a sample kit
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  1. Test Catalog
  2. Invitae BRCA1 and BRCA2 STAT Panel

Invitae BRCA1 and BRCA2 STAT Panel

Test description

This test analyzes the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which are associated with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome (HBOC).

Accelerated turnaround time (TAT) may be necessary because physicians and patients often want to make surgical and management decisions as quickly as possible. Individuals with a pathogenic variant have a higher risk of developing another breast cancer and may choose more aggressive surgery and/or different treatment options based on genetic testing results. BRCA1 and BRCA2 have well established medical management guidelines.

This test is appropriate for breast cancer patients with upcoming cancer-related breast surgeries and/or treatment and genetic testing may inform decisions such as lumpectomy versus mastectomy, single versus double mastectomy, or use of other treatments (such as use of PARP inhibitors or other chemotherapy regimens). Identification of a disease-causing variant may also guide testing and management of at-risk relatives. This test is specifically designed for heritable germline mutations and is not appropriate for the detection of somatic mutations in tumor tissue.

Genes tested

BRCA1 BRCA2

Order test

Primary panel (2 genes)

BRCA1 BRCA2

Alternative tests to consider

HBOC can also be ordered as part of a broader panel. Depending on the individual’s clinical and family history, one of these broader panels may be appropriate. Any of these broader panels can be ordered at no additional charge.

Clinical information

  • hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome (HBOC)

The average woman’s lifetime risk of developing breast cancer is 12%; her risk for developing ovarian cancer is 1.3%. Most cases of these cancers are sporadic and are not due to hereditary factors, but approximately 5%-10% of breast and ovarian cancer cases are hereditary and due to an identifiable pathogenic variant in a disease-causing gene. HBOC accounts for the majority of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer cases in individuals with a strong family history or an early-onset diagnosis.

Individuals who have inherited a pathogenic variant have a dramatically higher risk of developing cancer, and many of these cancers can be difficult to detect and treat. It is extremely helpful to identify these high-risk individuals so that additional screening, surveillance, and interventions can be started. These efforts can result in risk-reduction and early diagnosis, which increases the chances of successful treatment and survival.

Individuals with a pathogenic variant in one of these genes have an increased risk of malignancy compared to the average person. However, not everyone with such a variant will actually develop cancer. Further, the same variant can present differently, even among family members. Because we cannot predict which cancers may develop, additional medical management strategies focused on cancer prevention and early detection may benefit most patients who are found to have a pathogenic variant.

GeneFemale breast cancerMale breast cancerOvarian cancer*Other associated cancers
BRCA1 Up to 87% 1%-2% Up to 54% Pancreatic
BRCA2 Up to 84% Up to 8.9% Up to 27% Prostate, pancreatic, melanoma

*Ovarian cancer risk includes fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancers.

Pathogenic variants in BRCA1 or BRCA2 account for the majority of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer cases in individuals with a strong family history or an early-onset diagnosis.

HBOC is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. The gene BRCA2 is also associated with autosomal recessive Fanconi anemia.

HBOC syndrome testing should be considered in individuals with a personal and/or family history of features, including:

  • early onset breast cancer (age 50 or younger)
  • triple negative (ER-, PR-, HER2-) breast cancer at age 60 or younger
  • ovarian cancer
  • male breast cancer
  • multiple BRCA-associated cancers in the same person
  • a family history of ovarian, breast, pancreatic, melanoma, or prostate cancer
  • breast or ovarian cancer and Ashkenazi Jewish ethnicity

  1. King, MC, et al. Breast and ovarian cancer risks due to inherited mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2. Science. 2003; 302(5645):643-6. doi: 10.1126/science.1088759. PMID: 14576434
  2. Antoniou, A, et al. Average risks of breast and ovarian cancer associated with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations detected in case Series unselected for family history: a combined analysis of 22 studies. Am. J. Hum. Genet. 2003; 72(5):1117-30. doi: 10.1086/375033. PMID: 12677558
  3. Hampel, H, et al. A practice guideline from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics and the National Society of Genetic Counselors: referral indications for cancer predisposition assessment. Genet. Med. 2015; 17(1):70-87. doi: 10.1038/gim.2014.147. PMID: 25394175
  4. Metcalfe, K, et al. Contralateral breast cancer in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers. J. Clin. Oncol. 2004; 22(12):2328-35. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2004.04.033. PMID: 15197194
  5. Easton, DF, et al. Genetic linkage analysis in familial breast and ovarian cancer: results from 214 families. The Breast Cancer Linkage Consortium. Am. J. Hum. Genet. 1993; 52(4):678-701. PMID: 8460634
  6. Hopper, JL, et al. Population-based estimate of the average age-specific cumulative risk of breast cancer for a defined set of protein-truncating mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2. Australian Breast Cancer Family Study. Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev. 1999; 8(9):741-7. PMID: 10498392
  7. Tai, YC, et al. Breast cancer risk among male BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 2007; 99(23):1811-4. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djm203. PMID: 18042939
  8. Petrucelli, N, et al. BRCA1 and BRCA2 Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer. 1998 Sep 04. In: Pagon, RA, et al, editors. GeneReviews (Internet). University of Washington, Seattle; Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1247/ PMID: 20301425
  9. Breast, Cancer, Linkage, Consortium. Cancer risks in BRCA2 mutation carriers. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 1999; 91(15):1310-6. doi: 10.1093/jnci/91.15.1310. PMID: 10433620
  10. Ford, D, et al. Risks of cancer in BRCA1-mutation carriers. Breast Cancer Linkage Consortium. Lancet. 1994; 343(8899):692-5. doi: 10.1136/jmg.31.6.504-d. PMID: 7907678
  11. Ford, D, et al. Genetic heterogeneity and penetrance analysis of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in breast cancer families. The Breast Cancer Linkage Consortium. Am. J. Hum. Genet. 1998; 62(3):676-89. doi: 10.1086/301749. PMID: 9497246
  12. Evans, DG, et al. Risk of breast cancer in male BRCA2 carriers. J. Med. Genet. 2010; 47(10):710-1. doi: 10.1136/jmg.2009.075176. PMID: 20587410

For management recommendations, please refer to:

Assay and technical information

Invitae is a College of American Pathologists (CAP)-accredited and Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-certified clinical diagnostic laboratory performing full-gene sequencing and deletion/duplication analysis using next-generation sequencing technology (NGS).

Our sequence analysis covers clinically important regions of each gene, including coding exons and 10 to 20 base pairs of adjacent intronic sequence on either side of the coding exons in the transcript listed below. In addition, the analysis covers the select non-coding variants specifically defined in the table below. Any variants that fall outside these regions are not analyzed. Any limitations in the analysis of these genes will be listed on the report. Contact client services with any questions.

Based on validation study results, this assay achieves >99% analytical sensitivity and specificity for single nucleotide variants, insertions and deletions <15bp in length, and exon-level deletions and duplications. Invitae's methods also detect insertions and deletions larger than 15bp but smaller than a full exon but sensitivity for these may be marginally reduced. Invitae’s deletion/duplication analysis determines copy number at a single exon resolution at virtually all targeted exons. However, in rare situations, single-exon copy number events may not be analyzed due to inherent sequence properties or isolated reduction in data quality. Certain types of variants, such as structural rearrangements (e.g. inversions, gene conversion events, translocations, etc.) or variants embedded in sequence with complex architecture (e.g. short tandem repeats or segmental duplications), may not be detected. Additionally, it may not be possible to fully resolve certain details about variants, such as mosaicism, phasing, or mapping ambiguity. Unless explicitly guaranteed, sequence changes in the promoter, non-coding exons, and other non-coding regions are not covered by this assay. Please consult the test definition on our website for details regarding regions or types of variants that are covered or excluded for this test. This report reflects the analysis of an extracted genomic DNA sample. In very rare cases, (circulating hematolymphoid neoplasm, bone marrow transplant, recent blood transfusion) the analyzed DNA may not represent the patient's constitutional genome.

Gene Transcript reference Sequencing analysis Deletion/Duplication analysis
BRCA1* NM_007294.3
BRCA2* NM_000059.3

BRCA1: Sequence analysis includes +/- 20 base pairs of adjacent intronic sequence.
BRCA2: Sequence analysis includes +/- 20 base pairs of adjacent intronic sequence.

Clinical resources
Genes and associated cancers chart Hereditary cancer requisition form and gene list Hereditary cancer risks and references chart Invitae brochure
Patient resources
Patient guide: Genetic testing for hereditary cancer Patient guide: Genetic testing simplified Patient guide: Hereditary breast cancer Patient guide: Hereditary colorectal cancer
Test information
Forms page Specimen requirements page

References

  1. Antoniou, A, et al. Average risks of breast and ovarian cancer associated with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations detected in case Series unselected for family history: a combined analysis of 22 studies. Am. J. Hum. Genet. 2003; 72(5):1117-30. doi: 10.1086/375033. PMID: 12677558
  2. Breast, Cancer, Linkage, Consortium. Cancer risks in BRCA2 mutation carriers. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 1999; 91(15):1310-6. doi: 10.1093/jnci/91.15.1310. PMID: 10433620
  3. Easton, DF, et al. Genetic linkage analysis in familial breast and ovarian cancer: results from 214 families. The Breast Cancer Linkage Consortium. Am. J. Hum. Genet. 1993; 52(4):678-701. PMID: 8460634
  4. Evans, DG, et al. Risk of breast cancer in male BRCA2 carriers. J. Med. Genet. 2010; 47(10):710-1. doi: 10.1136/jmg.2009.075176. PMID: 20587410
  5. Ford, D, et al. Genetic heterogeneity and penetrance analysis of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in breast cancer families. The Breast Cancer Linkage Consortium. Am. J. Hum. Genet. 1998; 62(3):676-89. doi: 10.1086/301749. PMID: 9497246
  6. Ford, D, et al. Risks of cancer in BRCA1-mutation carriers. Breast Cancer Linkage Consortium. Lancet. 1994; 343(8899):692-5. doi: 10.1136/jmg.31.6.504-d. PMID: 7907678
  7. Hampel, H, et al. A practice guideline from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics and the National Society of Genetic Counselors: referral indications for cancer predisposition assessment. Genet. Med. 2015; 17(1):70-87. doi: 10.1038/gim.2014.147. PMID: 25394175
  8. Hopper, JL, et al. Population-based estimate of the average age-specific cumulative risk of breast cancer for a defined set of protein-truncating mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2. Australian Breast Cancer Family Study. Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev. 1999; 8(9):741-7. PMID: 10498392
  9. King, MC, et al. Breast and ovarian cancer risks due to inherited mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2. Science. 2003; 302(5645):643-6. doi: 10.1126/science.1088759. PMID: 14576434
  10. Metcalfe, K, et al. Contralateral breast cancer in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers. J. Clin. Oncol. 2004; 22(12):2328-35. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2004.04.033. PMID: 15197194
  11. Petrucelli, N, et al. BRCA1 and BRCA2 Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer. 1998 Sep 04. In: Pagon, RA, et al, editors. GeneReviews (Internet). University of Washington, Seattle; Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1247/ PMID: 20301425
  12. Tai, YC, et al. Breast cancer risk among male BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 2007; 99(23):1811-4. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djm203. PMID: 18042939

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