The signature may be useful for guiding treatment strategy based on patients' prognoses, and with further validation, may even be useful for predicting response to specific drugs.
In patients with Luminal B tumors the CDK4/6 inhibitor ribociclib along with hormonal therapy produced response rates similar to multi-agent chemotherapy.
Investigators compared expression in different men across the genes from three commercial panels, arguing that the findings highlight important unknowns.
Authors concluded that all three assays — Oncotype DX, EndoPredict, and Prosigna — met Canadian thresholds for cost-effectiveness and urged caution in considering the findings.
The researchers have used nCounter, an FDA-cleared platform from NanoString Technologies, to develop their gene expression assay for subtype classification.
Using samples from different points in patients' treatment, researchers employed a variety of tools, including NanoString's GeoMx DSP, to explore potential response markers.
Although a draft guidance last month recommended against use of molecular tests to guide chemotherapy, the group's finalized decision is subject to price negotiation and other adjustments.
