Principal Investigator

• Giovanni Parmigiani, Ph.D.
  Johns Hopkins University

Participating Institutions

• Carolina-Georgia Center of the Cancer Genetics Network
• Lombardi Cancer Center Cancer Genetics Network
• Mid-Atlantic Cancer Genetics Network
• Northwest Cancer Genetics Network
• Rocky Mountain Cancer Genetics Coalition
• Texas Cancer Genetics Consortium
• UCI-UCSD Cancer Genetics Network Center
• University of Pennsylvania Cancer Genetics Network

Synopsis

Many aspects of a woman’s family history are important in determining her chance of being a carrier. A variety of statistical models have been developed to provide physicians and their patients a tool for estimating a woman’s individual risk for breast or ovarian cancer, and for making decisions about genetic testing and other health care decisions. However, the relative merits of the models are not fully understood.

This study is comparing and critiquing five models for determining a woman’s likelihood of being a BRCA1 or BRCA2 carrier, based on family history. The models were developed by Duke University; Myriad Genetics, Inc.; National Cancer Institute; University of Pennsylvania; and Yale University.

Data for the study are from information supplied by women who enrolled in the eight CGN centers and who agreed to have their information used for this research.

View the protocol summary report.