Oncotype DX®: The Oncotype DX test may be helpful when deciding whether additional
(adjuvant) treatment with chemotherapy (after surgery) might be useful in women with
certain early-stage breast cancers that usually have a low chance of coming back (stage I
or II estrogen receptor–positive breast cancers without lymph node involvement). Recent
data has shown it may also be helpful for patients with positive lymph nodes.
The test looks at a set of 21 genes in cells from tumor samples to determine a 'recurrence
score', which is a number between 0 and 100:
· Women with a recurrence score of 17 or below have a low risk of recurrence (cancer
coming back after treatment) if they are treated with hormone therapy. These women
would probably not benefit from chemotherapy.
· Women with a score of 18 to 30 are at intermediate risk and some might benefit from
chemotherapy.
· Women with a score of 31 or more are at high risk and are likely to benefit from
chemotherapy in addition to hormone therapy.
The test estimates risk, but it cannot tell for certain if any particular woman will have a
recurrence. It is a tool that can be used, along with other factors, to help guide women
and their doctors when deciding whether more treatment might be useful.
Disclaimer: This website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of any medical institution.