BRCA1
Also known as breast cancer gene 1
Tumour types
breast cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer
BRCA1 encodes a tumor suppressor involved in homologous recombination DNA repair; pathogenic germline variants confer elevated lifetime risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
Pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants (germline or somatic) are the clinically actionable finding; variants of uncertain significance are not treated as actionable.
Clinical significance
Deleterious germline BRCA1 mutation status is used to select patients with HER2-negative breast cancer or ovarian cancer for PARP inhibitor therapy.
fda — FDA-approved product labeling for PARP inhibitors
FDA-approved treatments
- Lynparza (olaparib) — Germline BRCA-mutated, HER2-negative high-risk early breast cancer (adjuvant) and metastatic breast cancer; germline or somatic BRCA-mutated advanced ovarian cancer (maintenance and treatment settings); germline BRCA-mutated metastatic pancreatic cancer (maintenance); HRR gene-mutated (including BRCA) metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer [fda]
- Talzenna (talazoparib) — Germline BRCA-mutated, HER2-negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer [fda]
Prevalence
Pathogenic germline BRCA1 variants are found in approximately 5% of unselected breast cancers and up to 15% of ovarian cancers. [fda]
Tests / detection method
germline genetic testing, somatic NGS
Therapeutic pipeline
- Next-generation PARP1-selective inhibitors [fda]
Recent news for BRCA1
PubMed Central · Sep 2, 2026
Integrative proteomics reveals MSH6 to modulate PARP inhibitor sensitivity in BRCA1/2-proficient ovarian cancer.
Read at PubMed CentralPubMed Central · Sep 1, 2026
The Clinical Application of Refined Risk Estimates Study in BRCA1 and BRCA2 Pathogenic Variant Carriers: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Read at PubMed CentralPubMed Central · Sep 1, 2026
A Novel BRCA1 Pathogenic Variant in Tunisian Patient With High Grade Ovarian Cancer: Favorable Therapeutic Response to Olaparib.
Read at PubMed CentralPubMed Central · Aug 24, 2026
PCNA-RECQL5-RPRD1B recruit repair components to stressed replication forks to promote survival of BRCA1-deficient cancer cells.
Read at PubMed CentralPubMed Central · Aug 17, 2026
Decision coaching for healthy women with BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants and open family planning: Impact on decisional conflict and decision status: Subgroup analyses from a randomized controlled trial.
Read at PubMed CentralPubMed Central · Aug 10, 2026
XYL-1 and Olaparib Synergistically Inhibit the Growth of Pancreatic Cancer by Suppressing the SCD1/BRCA1 Signaling Pathway.
Read at PubMed CentralPubMed Central · Jul 8, 2026
Iron-catalyzed oxidative stress reveals an exposome-related ferroptosis-resistant karyomegalic niche in BRCA1-linked renal carcinogenesis.
Read at PubMed Central