Risk Test for Breast Cancer Metastasis

A microarray-based diagnostic test assesses the risk of metastasis in breast cancer patients.

Called MammaPrint, the test is administered in the laboratory facilities of Agendia (Amsterdam, The Netherlands). The test uses a 70-gene profile to classify breast cancer patients as having low or high risk of developing distant metastases in a 10-year period. Agendia has received ISO accreditation for the service.

MammaPrint offers valuable information to oncologists and breast cancer patients concerning the subsequent treatment of their disease, which may include chemotherapy for patients at risk of developing metastases. Several studies in medical centers in Europe and the United States have demonstrated that MammaPrint outperforms conventional classifying methods such as the widely used St. Gallen criteria. MammaPrint accurately identifies patients who can be left untreated when evaluated by conventional methods, sparing them the serious side effects of chemotherapy.

Agendia is a biotechnology company that is a spin-off of The Netherlands Cancer Institute and has a strong base in advanced cancer research. ISO is an international standard for the competence of testing laboratories. The accreditation is granted for four years, during which the Dutch Accreditation Council will perform yearly inspections of the company's laboratory facilities to confirm that the company is conforming to all ISO requirements.




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