Breast Cancer Index (BCI) is a test that provides information to help women diagnosed with early-stage, hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer, and their oncologists make personalized decisions about extending anti-estrogen (also called hormonal or endocrine) therapy beyond 5 years.

Breast Cancer Index is a test that looks at your initial tumor sample to provide two pieces of information:

1. Whether an additional 5 years of anti-estrogen therapy is likely to help reduce your risk of the cancer returning (recurrence) as metastatic disease
2. Your individual risk of metastatic recurrence between 5 and 10 years after your initial diagnosis, which is presented as a percentage risk [e.g., 3.2% or 7.5%]

Not every woman treated with anti-estrogen therapy will have the same level of benefit from five additional years of therapy. In clinical trials, approximately three to five out of every 100 women treated with 5 additional years of therapy benefited from extending anti-estrogen therapy.^1-7

Some women experience significant side effects from treatment and exposure to long term risks from these medications. Breast Cancer Index helps identify women that may be more likely to benefit from extending anti-estrogen therapy beyond year 5, and also helps to identify women who are not likely to benefit from extended therapy, and thus may be spared the side effects from continuing therapy with these drugs.^{13, 14}

Your oncology team will use Breast Cancer Index in combination with additional clinical information to help determine your treatment plan.

No. Oncotype DX predicts likely benefit from chemotherapy. Breast Cancer Index is a test that predicts whether you are likely to benefit from an additional 5 years of anti-estrogen medication.

Breast Cancer Index is THE ONLY commercially available test validated to predict the likelihood of benefit from anti-estrogen therapy beyond 5 years.

Am I eligible for Breast Cancer Index?

1. You are a woman who has been diagnosed with stage I to IIIa breast cancer.
2. Your breast cancer is estrogen receptor–positive (ER+) and/or progesterone receptor–positive (PR+).
3. You have been prescribed anti-estrogen (also called hormonal or endocrine) therapy.
4. You are breast-cancer free.

The decision whether or not to order Breast Cancer Index is one that you and your oncologist will make together.

Download the conversation guide for a printable list of questions you can take directly to your next appointment.

Breast Cancer Index testing does not require any additional procedures. After your doctor orders Breast Cancer Index, Biotheranostics reaches out to the hospital to collect the tumor specimen that was taken during your biopsy or surgery. No additional procedure (no new sample) is required for Breast Cancer Index testing. After Biotheranostics receives the original sample, a test result is sent to your oncologist within 10 business days.

Talk to your oncologist when you have a question about how long you will need to take anti- estrogen therapy and when Breast Cancer Index is right for you.

Your physician may order the test:

1. As you approach the fifth year after diagnosis to further inform whether to end anti- estrogen therapy or extend your treatment for an additional 5 years.
2. After 5 years post-diagnosis to provide additional information about continuing or restarting your anti-estrogen therapy.

For Medicare Patients

Breast Cancer Index is covered by Medicare when certain criteria are met. Detailed information on the criteria under the Local Coverage Determination can be found here: CMS.gov or by contacting our Patient Services Team Contact & Support with specific questions.

For Commercial Insurance Patients

Your commercial insurance plan may cover Breast Cancer Index. A member of our Patient Services Team will contact you to discuss the billing process and what to expect in order to move forward with testing.