Mutational analysis by direct sequencing of the entire coding region of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes on 37 breast cancer patients aged 40 years and under, with no reported family history of breast and/or ovarian cancers, identified a total of 14 BRCA1 and 17 BRCA2 sequence variants. The gene discussed is BRCA2; the disease is ovarian carcinoma.