Pill effects on breast, ovarian CA same in high-risk women

(HealthDay)—Among women who are BRCA1/2 mutation carriers, the associations between ever use of oral contraceptives (OCs) and ovarian and breast cancers are similar to those observed in the general population, according to research published online Oct. 21 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Patricia G. Moorman, Ph.D., of Duke University in Durham, N.C., and colleagues performed a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis to estimate the risks of breast cancer and ovarian cancer associated with use of OCs in women at increased risk.

The researchers note that meta-analysis showed a significant inverse association between OC use and ovarian cancer (odds ratio [OR], 0.58; 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 0.46 to 0.73) and a non-significant association between OC use and breast cancer (OR, 1.21; 95 percent CI, 0.93 to 1.58) for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers combined. Similar patterns were observed when mutation carriers were analyzed separately.

"Our analyses suggest that associations between ever use of OCs and ovarian and breast cancer among women who are BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation carriers are similar to those reported for the general population," the authors write.