Dr. Partridge on the Role of Genomic Testing in Breast Cancer

Ann H. Partridge, MD, MPH, vice chair of medical oncology, ​founder and director, Program for Young Women With Breast Cancer, director, Adult Survivorship Program, senior physician, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, professor of medicine, Harvard Medical School, discusses the role of genomic testing in breast cancer.

Genomic expression prediction assays have been instrumental in understanding the value of chemotherapy ​for patient​s with breast cancer, says Partridge. ​For example, the Oncotype DX test looks at a set of 21 genes in cancer cells from tumor biopsy or surgery sample in order to obtain a recurrence score.

​Moreover, the test provides critical insight into whether a patient may or may not benefit from chemotherapy, Partridge explains.

Now, encouraging prospective data show that chemotherapy may be beneficial in the adjuvant setting for patients with node-negative or hormone receptor–positive breast cancer, concludes Partridge.