Breast Cancer Index^SM

Predicts risk of recurrence in breast cancer

Estrogen receptor positive (ER+) and lymph node-negative (LN-) status at time of initial diagnosis for breast cancer has been considered to have a favorable patient outcome. However, long-term risks of recurrence and death from breast cancer in these patients are not well understood. Modern genomic testing is beginning to shed more light on the risks faced by patients even 10 years after their initial diagnosis and treatment.

Studies indicate greatest risk periods

In a meta-analysis of seven different studies including more than 3,500 patients who had received some type of post-surgical adjuvant therapy for breast cancer, risk of recurrence was greatest during the first two years following surgery. After this period, the research showed a steady decrease in the risk of recurrence until year five, when the risk of recurrence declined slowly and remained at an average of 4.3% per year.

Interestingly, a substantial proportion of breast cancer recurrences seen in this study occurred more than five years after surgery, between years six and twelve. These recurrences happened even in patients who were considered at low risk for recurrence due to the presence of ER+, LN- disease. This research indicates that through at least twelve years of follow-up, the risk of breast cancer recurrence remains appreciable and even some patients considered low risk have some risk of recurrence.*

The importance of risk stratification

Breast Cancer Index, a gene signature-based assay, can stratify patients into low, intermediate, and high risk of recurrence groups based on the molecular characteristics of their tumors.

*Go to www.lifeabc.org for more information.