Predictive and prognostic value of the 21-gene recurrence score in hormone receptor-positive, node-positive breast cancer

Am J Clin Oncol. 2014 Aug;37(4):404-10. doi: 10.1097/COC.0000000000000086.

Abstract

The addition of adjuvant chemotherapy to hormonal therapy is recommended for patients with estrogen receptor-positive (ER+), node-positive (N+) early breast cancer (EBC). Some of these patients, however, are not likely to benefit from treatment and may, therefore, be overtreated while also incurring unnecessary treatment-related adverse events and health care costs. The 21-gene Recurrence Score assay has been clinically validated and recommended for use in patients with ER+, node-negative (N0) EBC to assess the 10-year risk of distant disease recurrence and predict the likelihood of response to adjuvant chemotherapy. A growing body of evidence from several large phase III clinical trials reports similar findings in patients with ER+, N+ EBC. A systematic review of published literature from key clinical trials that have used the 21-gene breast cancer assay in patients with ER+, N+ EBC was performed. The Recurrence Score has been shown to be an independent predictor of disease-free survival, overall survival, and distant recurrence-free interval in patients with ER+, N+ EBC. Outcomes from decision impact and health economics studies further indicate that the Recurrence Score affects physician treatment recommendations equally in patients with N+ or N0 disease. It also indicates that a reduction in Recurrence Score-directed chemotherapy is cost-effective. There is a large body of evidence to support the use of the 21-gene assay Recurrence Score in patients with N+ EBC. Use of this assay could help guide treatment decisions for patients who are most likely to receive benefit from chemotherapy.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Review
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Anastrozole
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Breast Neoplasms / mortality*
  • Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • Genetic Markers*
  • Humans
  • Nitriles / administration & dosage
  • Nitriles / therapeutic use
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prognosis
  • Receptors, Estrogen / metabolism
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Tamoxifen / administration & dosage
  • Tamoxifen / therapeutic use
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Triazoles / administration & dosage
  • Triazoles / therapeutic use
  • Validation Studies as Topic

Substances

  • Genetic Markers
  • Nitriles
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Triazoles
  • Tamoxifen
  • Anastrozole