MammaPrint is a genomic test that evaluates the activity of 70 genes to determine risk of breast cancer recurrence and to indicate possible benefit from chemotherapy.
You may hear MammaPrint called a prognostic test, which means it’s a test that predicts your likelihood of experiencing a particular medical event. Prognostic tests are different than diagnostic tests, which show whether you have a medical condition. Prognostic test results showing a high likelihood of distant recurrence do not guarantee that you’ll have a distant recurrence—but they can help you and your care team make treatment decisions.
MammaPrint is performed using tumor tissue taken during a biopsy or surgery. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) both support the use of MammaPrint in making decisions about post-surgery treatment and include it in their standard treatment guidelines.
MammaPrint is used to test tumors from women of any age who have been diagnosed with breast cancer that:
MammaPrint is most commonly used in hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative early-stage breast cancer with zero to three positive lymph nodes. In the MINDACT clinical trial, women with a MammaPrint low risk score had the best outcomes and did not benefit from chemotherapy. Women with MammaPrint high risk scores did benefit from chemotherapy. Talk to your physician about what your score means for you.
Right now, data are limited about how helpful genomic tests for early-stage breast cancer are in male breast cancer, but these tests can be considered.
Informed choices
When Laura-Lynn Renner faced challenging side effects from her breast cancer treatment, she sought a better way. The MammaPrint test empowered her to make an important decision about her hormonal therapy. See how this test was a game-changer for her.
Your chance of distant recurrence within 10 years of diagnosis will be reported as a risk level based on the activity of the 70 genes analyzed by MammaPrint. Your doctor will consider your clinical risk (the size of the tumor, lymph node involvement, and other features of the cancer) as well as the MammaPrint score to help determine the breast treatment plan for you.
Possible results include:
If you have private health insurance, your carrier may pay part or all of the cost of MammaPrint testing. It’s best to check your coverage before you have the test to avoid unexpected costs. Visit your insurance company’s online portal or call their customer service line to speak with someone about your plan’s coverage policy. Medicare and Medicaid may also provide some coverage of the cost of MammaPrint.
The maker of MammaPrint, Agendia, offers financial assistance programs for people who meet certain eligibility requirements. Visit their financial support page to contact their support team and learn more.
For more information on financial assistance for breast cancer testing and treatment, visit our Financial assistance page.
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Living Beyond Breast Cancer is a national nonprofit organization that seeks to create a world that understands there is more than one way to have breast cancer. To fulfill its mission of providing trusted information and a community of support to those impacted by the disease, Living Beyond Breast Cancer offers on-demand emotional, practical, and evidence-based content. For over 30 years, the organization has remained committed to creating a culture of acceptance — where sharing the diversity of the lived experience of breast cancer fosters self-advocacy and hope. For more information, learn more about our programs and services.
