Oncotype

Hello..this is from the website oncotypedx.com:

The Oncotype DX test is a diagnostic test that can help women with some types of breast cancer learn more about the biological activity of their specific tumor. Along with other pieces of information, the results from the Oncotype DX test can help women and their doctors make decisions about whether or not to include chemotherapy in their treatment plan. It can also help indicate how likely it is that a woman's cancer may return in the future (distant recurrence).

The Oncotype DX test looks at a group of 21 genes within a woman's tumor sample-16 cancer genes and 5 control genes-to see how they are expressed, or how active they are. The results of the test are reported as a quantitative Recurrence Score^® result, which is a score between 0 and 100 that correlates with the likelihood of a woman's chances of having her cancer return, and the likelihood that she will benefit from adding chemotherapy to her hormonal therapy.

The Oncotype DX test provides information in addition to standard measurements (such as tumor size, tumor grade and lymph node status) that doctors have traditionally used to estimate how likely a woman's cancer is to return, and to help her make treatment decisions.

The Oncotype DX test is the only test of its kind recommended in certain circumstances in both the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) treatment guidelines. These guidelines are developed by medical experts to help doctors give their patients the best possible care. The Oncotype DX test has been ordered by over 8,000 doctors in over 50 countries for more than 135,000 patients (as of December 2009). In most cases, insurance covers the cost of the test.