Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner (AOCNP) Certification Practice Test 2025 - Free AOCNP Practice Questions and Study Guide

BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations are strongly associated with familial breast cancer, making them the most significant genetic markers for assessing hereditary risk in breast and ovarian cancer. Individuals carrying mutations in these genes have a substantially increased lifetime risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer compared to the general population. Specifically, BRCA1 mutations are associated with a higher risk of triple-negative breast cancer, while BRCA2 mutations may lead to a broader spectrum of breast cancer subtypes.

These mutations are inherited in an autosomal dominant manner, meaning that having just one altered copy of the gene from either parent can significantly elevate cancer risk. Genetic testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations is a common recommendation for individuals with a strong family history of breast cancer or associated cancers, providing crucial information for risk management and preventative strategies.

In contrast, the other options represent genetic alterations that are either not primarily linked to familial breast cancer (such as TP53 mutations, which are more related to Li-Fraumeni syndrome), mutations involved in other types of malignancies (like KRAS, which is often associated with colorectal cancers), or alterations that are not inherited but rather represent tumor characteristics (such as HER2 gene amplification, which is a prognostic marker rather than a hereditary marker for