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The Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score test is for patients who have been recently diagnosed with invasive stage I, II, or IIIA breast cancer. In addition, the patient’s breast cancer needs to be hormone receptor-positive (HR+) and HER2-negative (HER2-).

The Breast Recurrence Score® test is performed on a post-surgery lumpectomy or mastectomy tumor sample or on a core biopsy. As a result, the test should be used after the original surgery or biopsy but before treatment begins—as the test is intended to help guide treatment decisions. Learn more about how the Breast Recurrence Score test works.

Genetic tests help people understand their risk for getting cancer. Genomic tests help people who have been diagnosed with cancer with their treatment planning. Once you have cancer, the activity of certain genes in your tumor tissue influences the behavior of your tumor, including how likely it is to grow and spread. The Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score^® test looks at these genes to help you and your doctor make decisions about your care.

There are five different anatomic stages of breast cancer: 0, I, II, III, and IV. These stages tell you how much the cancer has grown and spread. For example, stage 0 cancer is an early form of non-invasive cancer that is contained in one place, while stage IV is cancer that has spread throughout the body. If you have stage I, II, or IIIA breast cancer, you may be eligible for the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score^® test.

If you have ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), you have stage 0 (non-invasive) cancer. “In situ” means all that the cancer cells have not spread outside the milk duct. Only patients with DCIS are eligible for Oncotype DX Breast DCIS Score^® test.

Learn more about the anatomic stages of cancer.

Estrogen and progesterone are 2 of the hormones in your body. They have many roles, including facilitating the reproductive process. In (and on) breast cells, there are “hormone receptors”—proteins that pick up hormone signals. If the cancer cells in your breast have hormone receptors, they are called "HR-positive." HR-positive cancer cells (like normal breast cells) may receive signals from estrogen—so the cancer might respond to hormonal therapy. If the cancer cells don’t have hormone receptors, they are classified as "HR-negative." With HR-negative cancer cells, hormonal treatment is unlikely to work, so your doctor will look for other options.

HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) is a protein that appears on the surface of some breast cancer cells. HER2-positive breast cancers have a lot of HER2 proteins (“HER2 overexpression” or “HER2 amplification”). HER2-negative breast cancers have little or no HER2 proteins. Different treatments are considered depending on the HER2 status.

Only patients with HER2-negative (HER2-) status are eligible for the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score^® test.

Most results from the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score^® test are available around 2 weeks from the date the tumor sample is received by the Exact Sciences lab.* The results are sent to your doctor so that they can discuss the results with you and answer your questions.

Medicare and the majority of private insurance carriers cover the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score^® test for eligible patients with early-stage invasive breast cancer. Because insurance coverage can vary across the country, it’s a good idea to check with your insurance carrier.

In addition, Exact Sciences’ Genomic Access Program (GAP) helps patients navigate insurance and other options for Oncotype DX tests. Learn more about insurance coverage and financial assistance to see the billing and coverage FAQs.