A model and software for genetic counseling
of women at high risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer


BRCAPRO-Related Papers

  • "Probability of carrying a mutation of breast-ovarian cancer gene BRCA1 based on family history"
    DA Berry, G Parmigiani, J Sanchez, J Schildkraut and E Winer. JNCI, 89(3) 227-238.
  • "Determining Carrier Probabilities for Breast Cancer Susceptibility Genes BRCA1 and BRCA2"
    G Parmigiani, DA Berry and O Aguilar. Am. J. Hum. Genet., 62:145-158, 1998.
  • "BRCAPRO Validation, Sensitivity of Genetic Testing of BRCA1/BRCA2, and Prevalence of Other Breast Cancer Susceptibility Genes"
    Donald A. Berry, Edwin S Iversen Jr, Daniel F. Gudbjartsson, Elaine H. Hiller, Judy E. Garber, Beth N. Peshkin, Caryn Lerman, Patrice Watson, Henry T. Lynch, Susan G. Hilsenbeck, Wendy S. Rubinstein, Kevin S. Hughes, Giovanni Parmigiani PhD. Journal of Clinical Oncology.
  • "Modeling risk of breast cancer and decisions about genetic testing"
    G Parmigiani, DA Berry, EI Iversen Jr, P Mueller, J Schildkraut and E Winer.
  • "Genetic Susceptibility and Survival: Application to Breast Cancer"
    EI Iversen Jr, G Parmigiani, DA Berry and J Schildkraut.
  • "Validating Bayesian Prediction Models: a Case Study in Genetic Susceptibility to Breast Cancer"
    Edwin Iversen Jr., Giovanni Parmigiani and Donald Berry.
  • "Validity testing of a computer model for calculating carrier probabilities of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations" ASHG abstract by Hiller et al.
  • "Ten Best Readings on Breast Cancer" (including BRCAPRO!).
  • "Overheads from a recent presentation on BRCAPRO".

    • PROGENY users

    can download a utility to create the input files required by BRCAPRO.

    PC users

    CAGene is a user-friendly PC-based program developed by David Euhus at U.T. Southwestern Center for Breast Care. It includes the BRCAPRO model as well as alternative models proposed in the literature. It is packaged with a user friendly pedigree-entry questionnaire, pedigree drawing, and data-base utilities. It works on Windows 95 and higher. There is also a CancerGene Website with additional information. To request the program:
  • 1) Download the "licensing agreement"
  • 2) Mail a signed copy to
    David Euhus,
    Assistant Professor,
    Division of Surgical Oncology,
    Department of Surgery,
    UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas,
    5323 Harry Hines Boulevard MC 9155,
    Dallas, Texas 75235-9155
    to expedite things you can send a fax (214-648-7965), but we'll eventually need a real signature.
  • 3) Wait for an email including the program as an attached file.
    • Users that obtained copies before April 26, 1999 can download an updated copy of CaGene.exe from the FTP-SITE     and replace their current version (found in the "Care" folder). In the old version, there is a rare combination of breast cancer ages that can cause a crash in the Claus model module.

    Unix users

  • USER'S MANUAL for the unix prototype program, as "PostScript" or "PDF (Acrobat readable)"

    • INPUT FILES

  • Default input files rates.aj.dat for Ashkenazi families and rates.non.dat for others. Aug 10, 2000.
  • Reduced penetrance input files rates.aj.5.dat for Ashkenazi families and rates.non.5.dat for others. These are obtained from the ones above, by multiplying all penetrances by 1/2. Aug 10, 2000.
  • Penetrance/prevalence input files corresponding to the Claus model rates.claus.dat . Oct 7, 1998.
  • Penetrance/prevalence input files with constant relative risk rates.aj.airr.dat for Ashkenazi families and rates.non.airr.dat for others. Aug 10, 2000.

    • Information for Patients

  • The Mid-Atlantic Cancer Genetics Network (MACGN) website.
    • If you have difficulties downloading postscript files, please follow this link for help.

    Back to Giovanni Parmigiani's homepage.

    Logo by Luca Parmigiani.