Results from a randomised international trial suggest a genomic test can identify some people with early-stage breast cancer who can safely avoid chemotherapy. Across participating countries, the study evaluates whether using a tumour-based test score to guide treatment leads to outcomes that are close to those achieved when chemotherapy is given. The trial focuses on patients whose genomic test results indicate a low likelihood of benefit from chemotherapy. For these patients, clinicians can instead use hormone therapy alone, after standard surgery to remove tumours.
The reporting describes the potential impact as large, with the trial supporting changes to treatment guidelines worldwide by reducing unnecessary chemotherapy in eligible patients. One account highlights a participant’s experience, describing relief after learning she could skip chemotherapy as recommended by the test’s results.
Overall, the sources indicate the trial’s purpose is to test both the accuracy of the genomic test in predicting who will not benefit from chemotherapy and the safety of omitting it, while relying on hormone therapy for ongoing treatment.
