Breast-Ovarian Cancer, Familial, Susceptibility to, 3; BROVCA3
OMIM number: 613399
Comments closing date: 15/03/2026
The RAD51C gene provides instructions for a protein that helps repair damage in our DNA. DNA
repair is essential for keeping cells healthy. When one copy of the RAD51C gene carries a harmful
change (called a pathogenic variant), this repair process does not work as well as it should. Over
time, this can allow genetic damage to build up in cells, increasing the chance of developing certain
cancers. People who inherit a RAD51C variant have a higher risk of developing breast cancer and
ovarian cancer than the general population. Breast cancers linked to RAD51C are more likely to be
“triple-negative,” a type that tends to develop at younger ages and can behave more aggressively.
Current evidence suggests that the average lifetime risk of breast cancer in people with a RAD51C variant is around 30%, and the risk of ovarian cancer is around 11%, although the exact risk for any individual can vary depending on the specific genetic change, family history, and other factors. In rare cases, inheriting altered copies of the gene from both parents can cause a severe childhood condition called Fanconi anaemia (OMIM 613390).
