Written By If you’ve been diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, determining your treatment plan might be the most important decision you make.
The Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score® test, which has been used by over 1.5 million patients, indicates the likelihood of your cancer recurring based on the biology of your tumor.1,2,3,4 It is also the only test that can predict whether you will benefit from chemotherapy.5,6
This test is for patients who have recently been diagnosed with node-negative or node-positive HR+ and HER2- invasive breast cancer.
The Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score® test uses tissue from your most recent biopsy or surgical excision (lumpectomy or mastectomy). The sample is then sent to a lab, where it’s analyzed to gather details on its potential behavior. This genomic test analyzes your tumor tissue for 16 cancer-related genes plus 5 reference genes to assess how your tumor might respond to treatment. This information is different from the typical insights gleaned from a genetic test, which aims to determine a person’s inherited cancer risk.
Ultimately, the test results help inform whether adding chemotherapy to your hormone therapy may help to reduce your risk of recurrence.
Insights gained
When the test is complete, your doctor will receive the results, and then they will review them with you at an upcoming appointment. The test will provide the following insights:
- The Recurrence Score® result, which will be provided as a number between 0 and 100. A low number means a lower risk that the cancer may return. For these women, it’s less likely that chemotherapy will be beneficial. However, a low score isn’t a guarantee that breast cancer won’t recur. On the other hand, a high Recurrence Score result suggests a higher risk that the cancer will come back — and a potential greater benefit from chemotherapy.1
- Distant Recurrence Risk, which is a percentage that suggests the risk of breast cancer showing up in another part of the body if you are treated with endocrine therapy alone.
- Group Average Absolute Chemotherapy (CT) Benefit, a percentage that indicates the likelihood that chemotherapy will lower the chances of breast cancer recurring when paired with hormonal therapy. This number is based on data from other patients with similar recurrence scores to yours.2,3,4,5,6
More than 17,000 patients have been studied for the link between the Recurrence Score result and chemotherapy benefit.1,2,7,8 This includes patients:
- With node-negative early-stage breast cancer
- With node-positive early-stage breast cancer
- With varying racial and ethnic minority backgrounds9
Most commercial insurance plans and Medicare cover the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score® test, and patients with Medicaid also have the test at their disposal. Talk to your doctor to see if the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score test could enable better informed care for your invasive breast cancer.
Click here for more information on Oncotype Dx Breast Recurrence Score® test
1 Paik et al. N Engl J Med. 2004;351:2817-2826.
2 Dowsett et al. J Clin Oncol. 2010;28:1829-1834.
3 Kalinsky et al. N Engl J Med. 2021;385:2336-2347.
4 Sparano et al. N Engl J Med. 2018;379:111-121.
5 Albain et al. Lancet Ocol. 2010;11(1):55-65.
6 Paik et al. J Clin Oncol. 2006;24(23):3726-3734.
7 Kalinsky et al. N Engl J Med. 2021;385(25):2336-2347.
8 Sparano et al. N Engl J Med. 2018;379(2):111-121.
9 Abdou et al. Race and Clinical Outcomes in the RxPONDER Trial: A Clinical Trial Rx for Positive Node, Endocrine Responsive Breast Cancer (SWOG S1007). San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. December 2022.
The information provided is not clinical, diagnostic, or treatment advice. You should consult with a qualified healthcare provider about any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this article.
