Prediction of Breast-Cancer–Specific Survival With Genomic Recurrence Scores

By: Justine Landin, PhD
Posted: Thursday, December 5, 2024

Recurrence score based upon a 21-gene genomic assay may help to predict clinical outcomes for patients with early-stage breast cancer, according to Sherry X. Yang, MD, PhD, of the National Cancer Institute, Rockville, Maryland, and colleagues. In fact, recurrence score was found to reliably predict survival prognoses for this patient population, with the highest prediction rates observed within breast cancer–specific outcomes. The findings of this biomarker-driven, phase III, multicenter study (TAILORx) were published in JNCCN–Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.

“Results of the TAILORx trial reported herein indicate that both midrange (11–25) and high-range (26–100) recurrence scores are independent factors for poor breast cancer–specific survival and recurrence-free interval prognoses and that high-range recurrence score only was associated with unfavorable disease-free survival,” stated the study investigators. “However, both categories of the scores were not significantly associated with overall survival.”

Recurrence scores were measured using a 21-gene genomic assay in the primary tumor samples of patients with hormone receptor–positive, HER2-negative, node-negative breast cancer (n = 10,273). If recurrence scores were found to be ≤ 10 or ≥ 26, patients received endocrine therapy alone or chemoendocrine therapy, respectively. If recurrence scores were between 11 and 25, patients were randomly assigned to receive either treatment. Study outcomes were reported only from patients who met specific NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) and had all clinicopathologic data and treatment information (n = 8,916).

Survival rates at up to 11.6 years of follow-up were 1.7% (breast cancer–specific survival), 5.2% (overall survival), 5.6% (recurrence-free survival), and 12.6% (disease-free survival). Midrange and high-range recurrence scores were associated with reduced breast cancer–specific survival and recurrence-free survival, compared with low-range scores. High-range scores, but not midrange scores, were associated with disease-free survival.

Disclosure: The study authors reported no conflicts of interest.

JNCCN–Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network

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