What Is a Breast Cancer Index Test?

Each case of breast cancer is different, so treatment shouldn't take a one-size-fits-all approach. The Breast Cancer Index (BCI) is a test that can help you get breast cancer care personalized to your unique tumor biology. Clinicians use the BCI for early-stage hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer patients to determine the chances that their breast cancer will return somewhere else in their body within 10 years of diagnosis. The results from the BCI can be used to determine whether staying on treatments that block or lower estrogen (anti-estrogen therapy) is likely to reduce that risk. Considering about 4 out of 5 cases of breast cancer are HR+, the BCI test is an important tool when deciding on a treatment plan for many women. Recently, the BCI test options were expanded to help patients get more information to help personalize their treatment decisions earlier in their diagnosis. Here’s what you need to know — and what’s new — about the BCI test.What is the Breast Cancer Index test?The BCI test analyzes the activity in 11 genes found in breast cancer tissue to assess how likely the cancer is to grow and spread as well as to determine if staying on anti-estrogen therapy f...