MammaPrint (Agendia)

The MINDACT clinical trial was designed to test whether a molecular test of 70 genes (MammaPrint) is better than standard clinical/pathological tests at predicting which women with early stage breast cancer will benefit from receiving chemotherapy. More details on the trial can be found on the NCI website at http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/search/view?cdrid=526522&version=healthprofessional and from the manufacturer at http://www.agendia.com/pages/mindact/128.php. The trial is ongoing (in Europe). A recent publication from Germany suggests that the test may be better at grouping patients into 'low' and 'high' risk of recurrence than currently used tests (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20383789). The MINDACT clinical trial was designed to test whether a molecular test of 70 genes (MammaPrint) is better than standard clinical/pathological tests at predicting which women with early stage breast cancer will benefit from receiving chemotherapy. More details on the trial can be found on the NCI website at http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/search/view?cdrid=526522&version=healthprofessional and from the manufacturer at http://www.agendia.com/pages/mindact/128.php. The trial is ongoing (in Europe). A recent publication from Germany suggests that the test may be better at grouping patients into 'low' and 'high' risk of recurrence than currently used tests (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20383789).

The Mammaprint test, developed by Agendia (http://www.agendia.com/pages/mammaprint/21.php), is used to predict whether early breast cancer is likely to spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. This is accomplished by looking (at the molecular level) at the activity of 70 different genes known to be involved in the progression of cancer. The results group the cancers into 'low' or 'high' risk for spread of cancer and can be used to guide treatment decisions. The test was initially approved in 2007 (http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm048477.htm).

The development of accurate molecular tests for drug sensitivity and prediction of disease progression is critical. These tests have the potential to spare patients treatments that are unlikely to work for their cancer and let them begin more effective treatments immediately. Essentially, the tests allow clinicians to treat each cancer case individually. These types of test will (and already have had) have a great impact on cancer survival and quality of life for patients. The Mammaprint test, developed by Agendia (http://www.agendia.com/pages/mammaprint/21.php), is used to predict whether early breast cancer is likely to spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. This is accomplished by looking (at the molecular level) at the activity of 70 different genes known to be involved in the progression of cancer. The results group the cancers into 'low' or 'high' risk for spread of cancer and can be used to guide treatment decisions. The test was initially approved in 2007 (http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm048477.htm).

The development of accurate molecular tests for drug sensitivity and prediction of disease progression is critical. These tests have the potential to spare patients treatments that are unlikely to work for their cancer and let them begin more effective treatments immediately. Essentially, the tests allow clinicians to treat each cancer case individually. These types of test will (and already have had) have a great impact on cancer survival and quality of life for patients.