Improving Prediction of Breast Cancer Recurrence

Prediction models that included traditional pathologic and clinical information alongside the results of a genomic assay performed better than models that included only the results of the assay.

Previous studies have shown that a 21-gene polymerase chain reaction assay (Oncotype 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 chemotherapy. What remains unclear is how best to manage patients with intermediate RS. In the present study, researchers eval…

Reviewing Author

William J. Gradishar, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardLilly; AstraZeneca; Gilead

Grant/Research SupportBreast Cancer Research Foundation

Editorial BoardsClinical Breast Cancer; Oncology; Annals of Surgery; Breast Cancer Research and Treatment

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNational Comprehensive Cancer Network (Chair, Breast Cancer Panel); American Board of Internal Medicine (Medical Oncology Board)

William J. Gradishar, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardLilly; AstraZeneca; Gilead

Grant/Research SupportBreast Cancer Research Foundation

Editorial BoardsClinical Breast Cancer; Oncology; Annals of Surgery; Breast Cancer Research and Treatment

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNational Comprehensive Cancer Network (Chair, Breast Cancer Panel); American Board of Internal Medicine (Medical Oncology Board)

Improving Prediction of Breast Cancer Recurrence

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Reviewing Author