Dr. Tripathy on the Oncotype DX Assay Recurrence Score

Debu Tripathy, MD, professor of medicine and co-leader of the Women’s Cancer Program at the University of Southern California Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, suggests the Oncotype DX recurrence score is useful in determining treatment options for patients with positive node breast cancer; since not all of these patients benefit from chemotherapy.

Tripathy describes that this idea is still controversial because the studies supporting it are not yet robust. A prospective study is currently underway examining 1-3 node breast cancer patients that are ER+ HER2 neu negative using the Oncotype DX recurrence score to randomize patients to receive either hormonal therapy or hormonal therapy in combination with chemotherapy.