MammaPrint Test
The MammaPrint test, made by Agendia, is a genomic test that analyzes the activity of certain genes in early-stage breast cancer.
Research suggests the MammaPrint test may eventually be widely used to help make treatment decisions based on the cancer’s risk of coming back (recurrence) within 10 years after diagnosis.
Knowing if a woman has a high or low risk of early-stage breast cancer coming back might help women and their doctors decide if chemotherapy or other treatments to reduce risk after surgery are needed.
What are genomic tests?
Genomic tests analyze a sample of a cancer tumor to see how active certain genes are. The activity level of these genes affects the behavior of the cancer, including how likely it is to grow and spread. Genomic tests are used to help make decisions about whether more treatments after surgery would be beneficial.
While their names sound similar, genomic testing and genetic testing are very different.
Genetic testing is done on a sample of your blood, saliva, or other tissue and can tell if you have an abnormal change (also called a mutation) in a gene that is linked to a higher risk of breast cancer. See the Genetic Testing pages for more information.
Who’s eligible for the MammaPrint test?
MammaPrint can only be used to analyze early-stage breast cancers. MammaPrint can be used on cancers that are:
stage I, stage II, or stage III that can be removed with surgery
invasive
smaller than 5 centimeters
in three or fewer lymph nodes
hormone receptor-positive and hormone receptor-negative
The MammaPrint test can be performed on a sample of preserved tissue that was removed during the original biopsy or surgery.
How does the MammaPrint test work?
The MammaPrint test looks at the activity of 70 genes and then calculates a recurrence score that is either low risk or high risk.
If you decide to have the MammaPrint test, you and your doctor take a number of factors into account when deciding on whether to add chemotherapy to your treatment plan, including:
your age
the size of the cancer
cancer grade
whether cancer cells were found in nearby lymph nodes
your general health
Health insurance coverage for MammaPrint
Some health insurance companies pay for the total cost of the MammaPrint test, while others may pay only a portion of the cost.
If you’re considering the MammaPrint test, talk to your insurance company to find out if it’s covered.
If you don’t have insurance or your insurance company doesn’t cover the MammaPrint test, Agendia may still be able to offer help. You can contact a patient advocate representative at Agendia by phone at 1-888-363-7868 or email at billing@agendia.com.
— Last updated on July 31, 2023 at 7:32 PM