Exact Sciences has today announced that the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended the expanded use of the Oncotype DX test to more effectively target chemotherapy treatment for women who have hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-), early-stage breast cancer involving up to three positive nodes and who have been through the menopause. 

NICE confirmed that breast cancer patients who are male and trans, non-binary or intersex may benefit from the test depending on their hormonal profile.

Today’s recommendation has the potential to impact more than 3000 additional breast-cancer patients in England who will now have access to the test through the NHS.

The new guidance expands upon earlier NICE recommendations for testing patients without lymph node involvement.

Access to genomic testing for patients with lymph node-positive breast cancer addresses the issue of overtreatment with chemotherapy, helping many patients to avoid treatment side effects such as nausea, fatigue, hair loss and potentially secondary cancer.

In addition, expanded reimbursement has the potential to free up resources and capacity within NHS breast cancer services.

Dr Caroline Archer, consultant medical oncologist Portsmouth Hospital NHS Trust said: 

“This is a practice-changing moment for node-positive patients and the NHS. There is an urgent need to target chemotherapy more precisely to those most likely to benefit from it, so that patients can avoid unnecessary side effects. The Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score result enables us to do this effectively by providing specific information about an individual’s response to chemotherapy. This positive recommendation marks a significant step forward in supporting equitable access to the test across the country.”

While the majority of patients with lymph node-positive early-stage breast cancer receive chemotherapy, research shows that only a minority benefit from the treatment.

The Oncotype DX test is the only test able to identify around 85% of postmenopausal patients whose cancer outcomes are not likely improved by chemotherapy, meaning they can avoid the risk of side effects.

A recent independent UK multi-centre trial led by Prof Holt involving 680 women with lymph node-positive early breast cancer confirmed that using the Oncotype DX test to help guide chemotherapy treatment decisions leads to a substantial reduction in unnecessary chemotherapy, as well as savings for the NHS.

Prof Simon Holt, Health and Life Science, Swansea University & Peony Breast Care Unit, Prince Philip Hospital said:

“This decision to recommend the use of the Oncotype DX test to guide chemotherapy decisions in early node positive breast cancer will be of great benefit to our postmenopausal patients and to the NHS. The use of the test will reduce the suffering and inconvenience by sparing up to 85% of people unnecessary chemotherapy, which in turn, then reduces the care demands on Oncology services. It also reduces significantly the cost of treatment so that NHS resources can be redistributed to other medical priorities. Also, our research has shown that the use of the Oncotype DX test means both clinicians and their patients will have much greater confidence in their chemotherapy decisions.”

The test’s efficacy is also supported by the landmark TAILORx and RxPONDER studies, which demonstrated that most patients with either node-negative or node-positive early-stage breast cancer do not benefit from chemotherapy and can be reliably identified using the Oncotype DX test.

Matt Bull, Head of Northern Europe (UK, Ireland and Nordics) at Exact Sciences, added: 

“We are delighted that more patients with node-positive breast cancer will now also benefit from knowing their Recurrence Score result. We are proud of the potential impact the expanded use of the Oncotype DX test will have — better patient treatment, improved clinical confidence and less pressure on the health service.”

Source: Exact Sciences