A panel on the effect of the Oncotype DX® genomic test on breast cancer was held in Zurich on March 13 with representatives from various European countries. The event was also broadcast via live webcast. What this test is all about and how it affects current breast cancer therapy will be shown below.
Individualized medicine, or precision medicine, enables physicians to diagnose disease more accurately, predict disease susceptibility more adequately, and use and dose administered medications more efficiently. This was brought to the attention of Steve Shak, moderator of the breast cancer panel in Zurich and co-founder of Genomic Health.
Genomic tests look at groups of genes and determine how active they are acting in a tumor. The Oncotype Dx® test determines the activity of 21 genes within a tumor sample that influence the likelihood of whether and how breast cancer will spread and respond to treatment. The test gives a pattern that allows the determination of a recurrence rate on a scale of 1 to 100.
In this context, personalized medicine ensures that the available budget is used more effectively: With the help of this genomic test, it should be possible to determine which patients need costly chemotherapy and which do not.
Fewer chemotherapies
In 30% of a total of over 5000 women tested, the said test resulted in a change of decision regarding the treatment method. According to Shak, women could also be treated with hormonal therapy based on this genomic test instead of having to undergo expensive chemotherapy. The Oncotype DX® test caused a significant decrease in the overall use of chemotherapy. According to Shak, being able to bypass the serious consequences of chemotherapy underscores the importance and potential of the alternative treatment method using Oncotype DX® testing. Further study results confirming the efficiency of the test remain to be seen.
Demet Bicer
Source: Genomic Health European Media Conference, March 13, Radisson Blu Hotel, Zurich Airport.
