We analyzed DNA from a total of 144 individuals from Estonia: 64 women with early-onset breast cancer diagnosed before the age of 45, and 47 familial cases consisting of patients with breast or ovarian cancer and at least one family member diagnosed with these cancers, and 33 predictive cases, individuals without breast or ovarian cancer, but having at least two cases of these cancers in the family; performing a screen for mutations in the BRCA1 gene. The gene discussed is BRCA1; the disease is ovarian carcinoma.