Determination of intermediate OncotypeDX scores?

Page last modified on: January 4, 2010

Question from WallyC: Has there been a determination for the intermediate OncotypeDX score and chemo cut-off for node-negative?: Answer —Kathy Miller, M.D.: No. We still struggle with the potential benefits of chemotherapy for women with ER-positive tumors that have intermediate Oncotype DX scores. In this group, there may be no benefits from chemotherapy or the benefit may be as high as 4-5%. That leaves women and their oncologists with very difficult decisions. This is essentially the difficult decision that all women faced before the Oncotype test was able to identify the low and high risk groups. This is why the current TAILORx trial, which randomizes patients with intermediate scores to hormone therapy alone or hormone therapy plus chemotherapy is so important. We suspect that many women in the intermediate group don't need chemotherapy, but the current test simply can't clearly identify them.

On Tuesday, December 15, 2009, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Updates from the 2009 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Kathy Miller, M.D. and Kristin Brill, M.D., F.A.C.S. answered your questions about the latest updates on breast cancer risk, screening techniques, treatment options, and more.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Kathy D. Miller, M.D. is associate professor of medical oncology at Indiana University, and a Sheila D. Ward Scholar.

Kristin Brill, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a breast surgeon and clinical instructor at the Thomas Jefferson University Department of Surgery in Philadelphia, PA. She also maintains a practice in Cherry Hill, N.J. Dr. Brill is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. In addition, she has published breast cancer research in medical journals such as Annals of Plastic Surgery and Cancer, and she has presented research at the American Society of Clinical Oncology.