Genetic assay predicts risk of local and regional recurrence.(Gynecology)

SAN ANTONIO -- A commercially available genetic assay has proved to be a potent predictor of the risk of local and regional recurrence of breast cancer, Dr. Terry Mamounas reported at a breast cancer symposium sponsored by the Cancer Therapy and Research Center.

The predictive power of the Genomic Health 21-gene expression assay known as Oncotype DX with regard to local and regional cancer recurrence in women with lymph node--negative, estrogen receptor--positive early breast cancer turned out to be similar to that demonstrated for distant recurrence risk in an earlier large clinical validation study (N. Engl. J. Med. 2004; 351:2817-26), added Dr. Mamounas, chair of the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) breast committee and medical director of the Ault-man Cancer Center, Canton, Ohio.

"These results expand the predictive value of Oncotype DX and could have clinical implications for the individualizing of locoregional therapy decisions," he said.

That proved to be the case in a separate study presented at the meeting by Dr. Ruth Oratz of New York University. She reported that knowledge of the recurrence risk based upon the gene expression test results caused four oncologists to alter their adjuvant therapy approach in one-quarter of 68 breast cancer patients.

The test results led to 3 patients being switched from planned adjuvant hormone therapy to chemotherapy, and 14 others who had been ...