Male BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers: a pilot study investigating medical characteristics of patients participating in a prostate cancer prevention clinic

Abstract

BACKGROUND Male BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers are at an increased risk to develop prostate cancer and are subject to screening protocols for high-risk men. The utility of targeted screening, and the clinical and pathological features associated with prostate cancer, have received little attention in this population. METHODS We report on the clinical screening and pathological characteristics of a group of 19 men with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, as compared to an age-matched group of men with a family history of prostate cancer. RESULTS Mutation carriers were significantly more likely to have an elevated PSA at first visit (P = 0.03). Prostate cancer was twice as likely to be diagnosed in mutation carriers although this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.55). CONCLUSIONS Prostate cancer surveillance of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers is warranted. Further research on larger cohorts is needed to evaluate whether unique pathological prostate cancer characteristics exist in these men.