Four women have groundbreaking two-in-one surgery to reduce their risk of ovarian cancer

Four women have successfully had combined surgery at UCLH in which they gave birth by caesarean section and at the same time had surgery to reduce their risk of ovarian cancer. 

The women are all carriers of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene alterations putting them at higher risk of ovarian cancer. Risk-reducing surgery for these patients is usually a standalone procedure to remove the fallopian tubes and ovaries (bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy). 

The first case of a caesarean section with the risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) to reduce ovarian cancer risk was done at UCLH in 2018. The team is not aware that this type of surgery has previously been reported in a medical journal. 

Completing four cases of the surgery now indicates it could be routinely offered to women who are BRCA gene alteration carriers and who are due to have a caesarean section. All women reported a high level of satisfaction with the two-in-one procedure. 

Individuals with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene alterations have an 11-68% lifetime risk of developing ovarian cancer. This compares with approximately 2% in the general population. BRCA gene alterations are linked to around 15% of ovarian cancers. 

RRSO is the only proven way to reduce ovarian cancer mortality, and reduces ovarian cancer risk by at least 95%. 

The four cases are reported in the the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology, in a case series report led by UCLH consultant gynaecologist Prof. Adam Rosenthal. 

All four women were referred to the UCLH Familial Cancer Clinic during pregnancy between March 2018 and March 2022. All were receiving maternity care at UCLH, and all were due to give birth by caesarean section for other reasons. 

To be considered for the procedure, the women had to be over 35 or 40 years old for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 alterations respectively, and not planning any further children. The four women were between 40 and 45 years old. 

After the combined surgery was discussed with the women, all cases were discussed at a multidisciplinary meeting involving obstetricians, gynaecological oncologists, clinical geneticists, genetic counsellors, and clinical psychologists. 

All four surgeries went well, and none of the women had serious post-surgical complications. Patients did not need to stay in hospital any longer than they would have after a caesarean section alone. There is a theoretical possibility of greater blood loss with risk-reducing surgery at the time of caesarean delivery – but there was no evidence that this was a problem in these cases. 

Risk-reducing surgery will always result in infertility, although women who have had eggs harvested prior to risk-reducing surgery may still be able to benefit from assisted reproduction. 

Risk-reducing surgery will also result in early menopause, so hormone replacement therapy is recommended until 51 years of age unless there are reasons not to give it (for example previous breast cancer). 

Prof. Rosenthal, who is supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research UCLH Biomedical Research Centre, and affiliated with the UCL Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women’s Health, said:

“Offering this two-in-one surgery could prove very beneficial to other women at high risk of ovarian cancer, who would then avoid the need for separate risk-reducing surgery. We were delighted to hear from the four patients how happy they were to have had the combined procedure. The number of women who give birth by caesarean section is increasing around the world, as is the number of women who know they carry a gene alteration which increases their ovarian cancer risk. This means many more women may be suitable for the combined procedure. There is also a potential cost saving to any healthcare system by avoiding the need for two separate operations.” 

Athena Lamnisos, CEO, The Eve Appeal, says: “Many younger women get in touch with our specialist nurse information service, Ask Eve, to talk through their options after finding out they are at an increased risk of developing cancer because they have an altered BRCA 1 or 2 gene. The option of having your ovaries removed to prevent ovarian cancer whilst you are having an existing surgery can help reduce the impact, one less surgery to go through and less time needed for recovery, so that they can get back to their lives knowing that their cancer development risk has been massively reduced. These case studies tell a powerful story about what preventative surgery can deliver for women at high risk of ovarian cancer.” 

Patient story 

Claire Rodrigues Lee, 45, from London, was one of the four women to have the surgery. She had it in 2019 at the same time as the birth of her son – her second child. She said: 

“As a carrier of the BRCA2 gene alteration, I knew I was at higher risk of ovarian cancer, and I wanted to have the risk-reducing surgery as soon as possible after giving birth for the second time. 

“I was looking up online how quickly I could have the surgery after giving birth, and I came across the combined surgery, as the first case had just been done, so I wanted to know if it would be possible for me. 

“At that point I made contact with the team at UCLH who performed the surgery - and ultimately made plans to have the combined surgery there. I am glad I did, and it meant that I didn’t need to go back into hospital for surgery after giving birth. 

“Recovery was no different having combined surgery to just having a C section – my first child was born via C section so I knew what to expect.”