Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score® Test
The Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score® test is a personalized test performed on tumor tissue that estimates the risk of distant recurrence —and helps predict if patients may benefit from chemotherapy, regardless of nodal status.1-6
For providers
Help guide treatment decisions by understanding your patient’s tumor biology, recurrence risk, and potential chemotherapy benefit.1-8
For patients
Learn how personalized insights can help you and your doctor make more informed cancer treatment decisions.1-8
Explore the science

The only test proven to predict chemotherapy benefit2,3,9

The Breast Recurrence Score® test helps predict chemotherapy benefit in patients with HR+, HER2- early-stage breast cancer, regardless of nodal status.
A woman standing next to a card displaying a test score of 20.

How the Breast Recurrence Score assay works

  • Uses a patient’s unique tumor sample1
  • Assesses the expression of 21 genes1
    • 16 cancer-related genes
    • 5 reference genes 
    • Uses reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to analyze tumor RNA1
  • Uses tissue obtained at the time of core biopsy or surgical excision10
A woman standing next to a card displaying a 7% distance recurrence risk at 10 years.

Provides a genomic assessment1-4

  • Includes the estimated risk of distant recurrence with endocrine therapy alone1,3,4,5,6,7,8
  • Helps predict the benefit of adding chemotherapy to endocrine therapy2,3,5,6,7,8
A woman standing next to a card displaying a sliding scale of test results.

Determines quantitative single-gene scores11-13

  • Quantitative estrogen receptor (ER) score helps assess the magnitude of hormonal therapy benefit11,12
  • Provides additional supporting information, such as progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 gene (HER2) scores12,13

Real people. Real stories. Real insight.

Hear how the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score test has made a difference for breast cancer patients.  

Trusted partners, better results

We’re proud to partner with some of the world’s leading institutions to help eradicate cancer.

References

  1. Paik S, Shak S, Tang G, et al. A multigene assay to predict recurrence of tamoxifen-treated, node-negative breast cancer. N Engl J Med. 2004;351(27):2817-2826.
  2. Paik S, Tang G, Shak S, et al. Gene expression and benefit of chemotherapy in women with node-negative, estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2006;24(23):3726-3734.
  3. Albain KS, Barlow WE, Shak S, et al. Prognostic and predictive value of the 21-gene recurrence score assay in postmenopausal women with node-positive, estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer on chemotherapy: a retrospective analysis of a randomised trial. Lancet Oncol. 2010;11(1):55-65.
  4. Dowsett M, Cuzick J, Wale C, et al. Prediction of risk of distant recurrence using the 21-gene recurrence score in node-negative and node-positive postmenopausal patients with breast cancer treated with anastrozole or tamoxifen: a TransATAC study. J Clin Oncol. 2010;28(11):1829-1834.
  5. Sparano JA, Gray RJ, Makower DF, et al. Adjuvant chemotherapy guided by a 21-gene expression assay in breast cancer. N Engl J Med. 2018;379(2):111-121.
  6. Kalinsky K, Barlow WE, Gralow JR, et al. 21-gene assay to inform chemotherapy benefit in node-positive breast cancer. N Engl J Med. 2021;385(25):2336-2347.
  7. Kalinsky K, et al. Updated results from a phase 3 randomized clinical trial in participants (pts) with 1-3 positive lymph nodes, hormone receptor-positive (HR+) and HER2-negative breast cancer with recurrence score of 25 or less: SWOG S1007. Presented at SABCS, Dec. 2021; Abstract GS2-07.
  8. Sparano JA, Crager M, Gray RJ, et al. Clinical and genomic risk for late breast cancer recurrence and survival. NEJM Evid. 2024;3(8):EVIDoa2300267.
  9. Referenced with permission from the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines In Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) for Breast Cancer V.4.2025. © National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. 2025. All rights reserved. Accessed April 28, 2025. To view the most recent and complete version of the guideline, go online to http://NCCN.org . NCCN makes no warranties of any kind whatsoever regarding their content, use or application and disclaims any responsibility for their application or use in any way.
  10. Jakubowski DM, Bailey H, Abran J, et al. Molecular characterization of breast cancer needle core biopsy specimens by the 21-gene Breast Recurrence Score test. J Surg Oncol. 2020;122(4):611-618.
  11. Kim C, Tang G, Pogue-Geile KL, et al. Estrogen receptor (ESR1) mRNA expression and benefit from tamoxifen in the treatment and prevention of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2011;29(31):4160-4167.
  12. Badve S, et al. Estrogen- and Progesterone-Receptor Status in ECOG 2197: Comparison of Immunohistochemistry and Reverse-Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction. J Clin Oncol. 2008;26(15):2473–2481.
  13. Baehner FL, et al. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis of ER, PR, and HER2 expression in FFPE tumor tissue: Comparison with IHC and FISH. J Clin Oncol. 2010;28(15_suppl):10572. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2009.24.8211

Oncotype DX, Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score, Breast Recurrence Score, and Recurrence Score are registered trademarks of Genomic Health, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Exact Sciences Corporation. Exact Sciences is a registered trademark of Exact Sciences Corporation. All other trademarks are the properties of their respective owners.

The Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score test was developed, and the performance characteristics validated by Genomic Health, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Exact Sciences Corporation following College of American Pathologists (CAP) and Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) regulations. The Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score test is performed at the Genomic Health Redwood City clinical laboratory. Exact Sciences clinical laboratories are accredited by CAP, certified under CLIA regulations, and qualified to perform high-complexity clinical laboratory testing. This test has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration or other notified regulatory authority.