BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers as potential candidates for chemoprevention trials

The identification of cancer susceptibility genes offers new avenues for se lecting high-risk individuals as subjects for chemoprevention trials. Becau se carriers of predisposing mutations are at high risk, they are more likel y to enroll and comply with chemoprevention trials, and meaningful results can be achieved with smaller numbers of participants and shorter periods of follow-up. Such studies have immediate benefits for carriers themselves, b ut they are also likely to result in effective chemopreventive strategies f or the general population. In this review, we discuss BRCA1 and BRCA2 carri ers as potential candidates for breast and ovarian cancer chemoprevention t rials. The existence of a large population with a high frequency of easily identifiable BRCA1/2 mutations can provide ample opportunity for such studi es. However, the possibility that tumor characteristics and hormonal profil e of BRCA1/BRCA2 related cancers are not completely equivalent to cancers i n the general population should be borne in mind. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.