Improving Prediction of Breast Cancer Recurrence

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that a 21-gene polymerase chain reaction assay (Onco type DX, Genomic Health) can effectively predict distant recurrence, as well as benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy, in women with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, axillary node–negative, tamoxifen-treated breast cancer (N Engl J Med 2004; 351:2817 and J Clin Oncol 2006; 24:3726). The recurrence score (RS) generated from this assay is used to classify patients as low, intermediate, or high risk, with the clinical implication being that low-RS patients would do well on tamoxifen alone and high-RS patients would benefit from the addition of …