Malignant mixed mullerian tumor of the ovary and bilateral breast cancer: an argument for BRCA3, or a coincidental cluster of unconnected cancers?

Gynecol Oncol. 2003 Nov;91(2):426-8. doi: 10.1016/s0090-8258(03)00438-4.

Abstract

Objectives: Malignant mixed mullerian tumors (MMMTs) of the ovary are a rare, aggressive subtype of ovarian cancer without a clear relationship to familial breast-ovarian cancer syndromes.

Case: We present the case of a woman with bilateral breast cancers who subsequently developed a stage IIIc MMMT of the ovary. The patient had a first-degree female relative with breast and ovarian cancer (not MMMT), as well as second- and third-degree female relatives each with bilateral breast cancers. BRCA1 and BRCA2 sequencing of germline DNA revealed no evidence of a heritable mutation.

Conclusions: Ovarian MMMTs may be a hallmark of breast/ovarian cancer secondary to genetic risk independent of classic BRCA1/2 pathways.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Female
  • Genes, BRCA1
  • Genes, BRCA2
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Mixed Tumor, Malignant / genetics*
  • Mixed Tumor, Malignant / pathology
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology
  • Pedigree