Emerging research
Some research has suggested that the BRCA gene may help repair damage to cardiac cells. Anthracyclines are potent chemotherapy agents used to treat many breast cancers but have been linked to heart damage. This has led to researchers studying whether women with BRCA mutations are more prone to the heart damaging effects of these agents. Preliminary research has shown mixed results. This study could confirm whether or not a BRCA mutation makes people more sensitive to the heart damaging effects of these drugs. If proven, this could affect choice of chemotherapy for breast cancer in women with mutations.
Our Steering Committee and Research Work Group gave this study a prioritization score
of 2.38 out of 4 points, meaning this is a medium-priority study.
Our Executive Committee and research team rated the feasibility of this research question as medium. Given the potential impact on choice of chemotherapy, and the interest on cancer and heart disease, the Executive Committee felt this was a study that might be promoted for planning, especially if interested collaborators could be identified.
Assess interest from CDRNs or other PPRNs within PCORnet Cancer Collaborative Research Group and search for opportunities to collaborate. If you are a researcher interested in collaborating with ABOUT on this research question, please contact us at: aboutnetwork@facingourrisk.org.
Our Steering Committee prioritizes questions based on four parameters on a scale from 1-4. Here are the average scores:
Our Executive Committee scored feasibility as medium based on the following considerations:
Joining FORCEs Newsletter: Heart Disease in BRCA Mutation Carriers
Updated 09/11/16
Cancer survivors
Previvors/High risk people
Men
Women
People with a BRCA mutation
People with an ATM, PALB2, PTEN, or other mutation that increases cancer risk
People with Lynch Syndrome
People at high risk for breast cancer
People at high risk for ovarian cancer
People who are newly diagnosed with cancer
ABOUT is a Patient-Powered Research Network in PCORnet®, the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network, an initiative funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI).
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