1. To determine the prospective incidence of ovarian cancer, fallopian tube cancer, breast cancer, primary peritoneal carcinoma and all cancer among women at increased risk of ovarian cancer, with a special emphasis on women who are known BRCA1/2 mutation carriers
a. To develop precise point estimates of these cancer rates among women who have undergone risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) and women who have elected screening
b. To compare the cancer rates between these two groups of women
2. To assess prospectively the prevalence of clinically occult ovarian cancer and fallopian tube cancer among women undergoing prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy and to seek evidence of precursor lesions in the excised ovaries and fallopian tubes. This will include a new technique for collecting ovarian surface epithelium cells for both diagnostic cytology and for molecular studies.
3. To assess prospectively quality of life as a function of various management strategies among study participants. The specific quality of life aims are:
a. To measure and model baseline and subsequent evolution of overall quality of life, sexual functioning, frequency of menopausal symptoms, depression, anxiety, and concerns associated with familial (genetic or otherwise) risk of ovarian cancer in women who are undergoing screening and have undergone RRSO.
b. To determine whether overall quality of life, sexual functioning, frequency of menopausal symptoms, depression, anxiety, and concerns associated with familial (genetic or otherwise) risk of ovarian cancer differ at baseline and with respect to changes over time between women undergoing screening and women who have undergone RRSO.
4. To establish a longitudinal serum, plasma and tissue repository for retrospective evaluation of other promising biomarkers and genetic alterations with special relevance to familial (genetic or otherwise) ovarian and breast cancer risk. |