Pedigree showing some of the classic features of a family with a deleterious BRCA2 mutation across three generations, including transmission occurring through maternal and paternal lineages. The unaffected female proband is shown as having an affected brother (breast cancer diagnosed at age 52 y), mother (breast cancer diagnosed at age 45 y and pancreatic cancer diagnosed at age 55 y), maternal aunt (ovarian cancer diagnosed at age 58 y), and maternal grandfather (prostate cancer diagnosed at age 55 y).

Figure 2. BRCA2 pedigree. This pedigree shows some of the classic features of a family with a BRCA2 pathogenic variant across three generations, including affected family members with breast (including male breast cancer), ovarian, pancreatic, or prostate cancers and a relatively young age at onset. BRCA2 families may exhibit some or all of these features. As an autosomal dominant syndrome, a BRCA2 pathogenic variant can be transmitted through maternal or paternal lineages, as depicted in the figure.

From: Genetics of Breast and Gynecologic Cancers (PDQ®)

Cover of PDQ Cancer Information Summaries
PDQ Cancer Information Summaries [Internet].
Bethesda (MD): National Cancer Institute (US); 2002-.

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