Oncotype DX® test

The Oncotype DX® test looks at a sample of your breast cancer cells under a microscope. It examines the activity of a group of 21 genes in your tumour to give you a recurrence score. It can:

• Give more information about the likelihood of your cancer coming back in the future
• Help the medical oncologist decide whether chemotherapy may be effective for you

The Oncotype DX® test is only helpful if your breast cancer is:

• Early stage 
• Lymph node negative. This means that there are no cancer cells in your lymph nodes
• Lymph node positive (with cancer cells in 1-3 lymph nodes)
• Oestrogen receptor positive, also known as ER+ (the breast cancer is stimulated by the hormone oestrogen) and HER2 negative (the cancer does not have high levels of the HER2 protein)

A sample of breast cancer tissue taken during your breast cancer surgery will be sent away for testing. Testing takes 10-14 days, after which you can discuss the results with your oncologist.

Recurrence scores can help to show how effective chemotherapy will be for you. It can help you to avoid unnecessary chemotherapy treatment. 

No. Oncotype DX® will only tell you about the possible benefits of chemotherapy. The decision about radiotherapy will depend on the type of surgery you had. Your doctor will discuss your individual treatments with you in detail.