Genetic Testing with Ovarian Cancer

Eligibility for genetic testing

If you have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, you may be interested in genetic testing. Whether you are eligible will depend on the type of ovarian cancer you have, and may also depend on your family history of cancer.

Guidelines vary between the devolved nations of the UK, so it’s important to speak to your cancer team to find out what is available to you where you live, and how it will affect your treatment options.

If you have a high-grade non-mucinous epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer you are automatically eligible for BRCA1/2 genetic testing. In England this also includes a diagnosis of serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC).

In March 2024, the new NICE guideline NG241 simplified eligibility for genetic testing to include all invasive epithelial ovarian cancer. This hasn’t been fully rolled out yet in practice so if you are in this situation, speak to your cancer team to find out what is available locally

If you are diagnosed with some rarer types of ovarian tumour you may be offered testing for other gene faults. The list of eligible types of ovarian cancer includes: ovarian Sertoli–Leydig cell tumour, small cell carcinoma of the ovary hypercalcaemic type, ovarian sex cord tumour with annular tubules, embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the ovary and ovarian gynandroblastoma.

If you have any other type of ovarian cancer, it is worth noting down any family history of cancer, as well as any Jewish/ Greenland/ Orkney heritage and discussing this with your cancer team. For example, if you have other family members with certain cancers, you may be eligible to be tested for gene faults known as Lynch syndrome. You may wish to use our Hereditary Cancer Risk Checker.

If they haven’t already talked to you about it, you can ask your cancer team about testing. Together you will decide whether you are to be referred to a local genetics team or offered a genetic test through your cancer team.

A referral to a genetics team may not be needed if you are being cared for in a hospital that offers genetic testing as part of your cancer care.

In these hospitals you may be asked whether or not you would like to have a genetic test by a nurse, doctor or other healthcare professional. Speak to your clinical team to find out how they offer genetic testing.

If you are to be offered genetic testing, NICE guideline CG164 1.5.2 recommends pre-test counselling. This allows you the opportunity to discuss the potential risk and benefits of genetic testing, the chances of finding a gene fault (mutation), the implications for you and your family, and the different types of test results.

You should also have the chance to ask questions to help you make the decision about whether or not you wish to have gene testing.

For links to information and resources to help you, see our resources page.

How will my BRCA1/2 status affect my treatment?

It’s useful for your oncology team to know if you have a BRCA1/2 gene fault so they can take it into account when considering options for your treatment and/or clinical trials.

Currently women with a BRCA1/2 gene fault are given the same chemotherapy treatment as women without a genetic predisposition and, in some cases, this treatment can be more beneficial to carriers of a BRCA1/2 gene fault.

For example, BRCA1/2 gene fault carriers with ovarian cancer receiving standard platinum treatments have higher response rates and longer times to relapse than women with non-hereditary ovarian cancer.

In 2016, a maintenance drug called olaparib (Lynparza) was approved for women with a BRCA1/2 gene fault facing a second recurrence of ovarian cancer. This class of drug, known as PARP inhibitors, can delay the progression of the disease by up to two years. Since this time several other PARP inhibitors have been approved, and eligibility for each one depends on the results of tumour testing. You can read more about targeted treatments such as PARP inhibitors here.

Clinical trials

Once standard treatments have been tried it’s possible that your oncologist will recommend you for a clinical trial. It is also possible that there may be a clinical trial available that is specifically tailored to women with a certain gene fault.

It is important to note that availability of these trials is patchy so you will need to discuss options with your oncologist.

You can also look online for current trials at clinicaltrials.gov

If you have any questions please contact info@ovarian.org.uk.

Note: NICE guidelines are followed in England and Wales. In Northern Ireland there is a set process by which the Department of Health in Northern Ireland review NICE guidelines and assess whether they are appropriate to implement.

Reviewed September 2026