December 15, 2008: The MammaPrint DNA microarray test from Amsterdam-based Agendia has helped identify a subgroup of patients with a 90%, 10-year survival rate in early breast cancer tests, the company announced in a news release.

Michael Knauer of the Netherlands Cancer Institute announced the data uncovering a substantial group of traditionally miscategorized low risk HER2+ patients. He used Agendia’s test to differentiate between patients at high and low risk for recurrence.

HER2+ patients are commonly identified as high risk, yet MammaPrint was able to identify a low risk subgroup of HER2+ patients, who subsequently experienced a 10-year disease-free survival of close to 90%even in the absence of chemotherapy.

Agendia’s MammaPrint microarray test identified patients with a 90%, 10-year breast cancer survival rate. (Photo courtesy of Agendia)

Knauer presented the results during the 2008 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

MammaPrint is the first invitro diagnostic multivariate index assay cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration, according to the company. It identifies patients with early metastasis — those patients who are likely to develop metastases within five years following surgery.

The MammaPrint test identifies patients with early metastasis. (Photo courtesy of Agendia)