Healthcare with Confidence
Genetic Molecular Tests for Breast Cancer in Israel
When breast cancer has been diagnosed, it is often hard to define the most effective treatment option. Doctors usually follow standard treatment regimens.
In Israel, molecular tests for breast cancer are a critical component of personalized medicine, offering international patients tailored treatment options based on the genetic profile of their tumors.
What is the purpose of Oncotests – Molecular tests for Breast cancer?
- Oncotests for breast cancer use hereditary information, as well as the genetic profile of other tumors (if they are present). This makes it possible to obtain accurate data when making long-term decisions identifying patients who can safely avoid chemotherapy.
- Molecular tests for breast cancer allow to define a long-term prognosis of the disease recurrence for patients in 10 years after treatment. Aggressiveness of tumor cells provides information for the oncologist and patient to select a reasonable type of treatment.
- Genetic tests for breast cancer allow to determine accurately the low or high risk of cancer recurrence, and get the most out of the main treatment without the side effects of chemotherapy, where applicable.
The results of the conducted oncotests will affect your further treatment. After a detailed analysis of the genes associated with breast cancer, the doctor receives a report that contains information about the low or high risk of recurrence (return) of the disease over the next ten years. Together with other factors, doctor defines the best treatment for the patient.
These factors are:
- Age
- Health condition and other diseases
- Possible effects of chemotherapy
Proper and safe treatment of a patient with breast cancer allows to choose the most appropriate treatment, to avoid harm from unnecessary chemotherapy.
List of the Innovative genetic tests for Personalization, Precise and Effective Breast Cancer Treatment
Whether you want to know if you have a hereditary risk of breast cancer, if you are a carrier of a mutation, or if breast cancer has already been diagnosed, if you are in stage 1 or metastatic stage and you are suffering from side effects, relapse, poor response to treatment, or if you are dealing with a complex tumor, contact us.
In Israel, the latest cancer tests are performed in accordance with the recommendations of the American Cancer Society.
Innovations in medicine and the development of advanced genetic tests make it possible in many cases to avoid chemotherapy and switch to a new generation of breast cancer immunotherapy and targeted drugs that are effective and have fewer side effects.
The test can be performed on an existing tissue biopsy or using a blood test (liquid biopsy).
BRCA testing
By identifying biomarkers and genetic mutations, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, molecular tests enable oncologists to recommend targeted treatments, predict treatment response, and assess the risk of cancer recurrence. This approach ensures that patients receive the most precise and effective care, enhancing treatment outcomes and improving quality of life.
FISH breast cancer test
As part of the breast biopsy examination, the expression of the three proteins is tested: receptors for estrogen (ER), progesterone (PR) and HER2. The expression of these three proteins, ER PR and HER2 is essential for guiding treatment decisions, since ER and PR Predict response to hormonal treatments, and increased expression of HER2 predicts response to targeted anti-HER2 treatments.
The HER-2 oncogene is a protein that controls cell proliferation and cell damage repair. Cancer cells that express high levels of HER-2 tend to grow at a fast rate and respond well to anti-HER-2 treatments. Breast cancer tumors that overexpress the HER2 protein make up about 20% of breast cancer cases and are called HER2-positive. Tumors that do not overexpress the HER2 protein are called HER2-negative.
Quantitative evaluation of the HER2 protein is performed by immunohistochemical staining. The answer is given as a number in the range of +1 to +3; when An answer of +1 is considered positive, and an answer of +2 is defined as inconclusive.
If a result of +2 is received, another test is performed which is considered more accurate – FISH – Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization. This test is performed Determines whether the cells contain excess copies of the HER2 gene. The results of the FISH are given as the number of copies of the HER2 gene in relation to the number of copies of another gene on the same chromosome, which means that a positive or negative result for the expression of the HER2 gene is obtained There are several more copies of the HER2 gene and a negative answer indicates that the number of copies is normal.
Breast EndoPredict testing
This diagnostic test is designed to determine the risk of distant metastases in patients with primary breast cancer that has positive expression of estrogen receptors (ER +) and negative expression of HER2 protein during hormone therapy. The oncotest determines the expression levels of 8 genes associated with estrogen receptors and rapid cell proliferation. EndoPredict is a diagnostic tool that helps the doctor to make an informed decision, avoid chemotherapy, if possible, and choose an individual treatment method for each patient.
In the presence of ER positive breast cancer, hormone therapy is the standard treatment protocol, which allows to halve the risk of cancer recurrence. In some cases, chemotherapy is additionally used. When prescribing this type of treatment, the doctor analyzes several factors and decides on the potential benefits and risks for the patient.
For ER + positive and HER2-negative tumors that produce the ER – protein associated with an estrogen receptor, additional tests may help your doctor to define the best course of treatment.
OncotypeDX testing for breast cancer
Oncotest is performed on a sample of tumor tissue obtained during surgery or biopsy. It is intended for women with a diagnosis of stage I-III breast cancer and positive expression of estrogen and / or progesterone receptors, and negative expression with respect to HER2. It helps the oncologist to decide whether chemotherapy should be considered as a preventive measure for relapse in addition to hormone replacement therapy.
- The Oncotype DX® Breast Recurrence Score is the only genomic test with the ability to predict the effectiveness of additional chemotherapy in patients diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer that expresses hormone receptors and is negative for HER2. The test is included in all international professional guidelines for a treatment decision at the highest level of evidence (Level 1A). The tests are designed to identify new lumps in the breast, changes in the appearance/structure of the breast or nipple as well as enlargement of lymph nodes in the armpits and breast area (to which the tumor spreads from the breast).
- Oncotype DCIS test (Oncotype DX Breast DCIS Score). The DCIS oncotype test (Oncotype DX for DCIS) is a unique genomic test that helps to diagnose women who, after removal of a non-invasive tumor of the breast, have an increased risk of the disease returning, either as another non-invasive tumor (DCIS) or as an invasive tumor. This information is of great value that may help the patient and her doctor in making decisions and adjusting the personal treatment for the patient, especially regarding the decision to add radiation after the removal of the non-invasive tumor.
Guardant 360
- Guardant 360 – Tests to adjust breast cancer treatment in an advanced disease stage. The Guardant 360 test is the most sensitive and comprehensive genomic test based on a liquid biopsy, which makes it possible to detect changes in the tumor DNA and to adapt target-oriented biological treatments and immunotherapy for them from a simple blood sample. In the test, 74 cancer-related genes are scanned using the next generation sequencing technology (Hybrid Capture) for all types of changes that exist in the genes: point mutation, small addition/deficiency to the gene, change in the number of copies of the gene and fusion between genes.
Tempus
- Tempus test – TEMPUS xT . TEMPUS xT is a groundbreaking comprehensive genomic test that is performed on the cancerous tumor tissue and scans 648 cancer-related genes compared to scanning the same genes on the patient’s corresponding healthy tissue, in order to locate all types of genomic changes that occurred in the tumor for which relevant treatments exist.
- Tempus xT + HRD (Homologous Recombination Deficiency). HRD is a term that refers to a problem in the repair pathway of breaks that occur naturally in DNA of the homologous recombination type. There are several genes that participate in this repair pathway, the most well-known being BRCA1 and BRCA2 and damage to one of these genes may lead to the development of a cancerous tumor. There are currently treatments that have been found to be effective When there are mutations in the genes in this pathway in a number of tumors including breast cancer, researchers have discovered that in some cases mutations are not identified in any of the known genes involved in the repair of DNA fragments, but there is still a problem in the pathway. The way to identify these cases is by checking the integrity of the track using an index called the HRD, which is the status for evaluating a problem in the repair pathway of DNA fragments, similar to a tumor that has mutations in the BRCA1/2 genes, even though no inherited genetic mutations were found in these genes. The HRD test is an addition to a comprehensive genomic test of the tumor while comparing it to healthy Tempus xT tissue available to patients diagnosed with breast cancer for the purpose of testing their suitability for treatment with PARP inhibitors and/or platinum-based chemotherapy.
CTC Test
Liquid biopsy is a “smart” blood sample, which makes it possible to accurately identify the genetic mutations in the patient’s tumor, to adjust medical treatment to him personally, and all this without the need for an invasive biopsy. The test has a number of advantages that make it one of the most powerful and effective tools in the way of personalizing the drug treatment, for example – adaptation to immunotherapy, monitoring the effectiveness of the treatment and early detection of cancer recurrence.
Curesponse/cResponse Oncotest
Curesponse is an Israeli oncotest that is based on the cResponse™ platform. This technology helps to determine individualized cancer treatment plans for an individual patient. The platform accurately replicates the architecture of the patient’s cancer tissue, reflecting the growth of cancer in the body.
The tissue is grown in a natural microenvironment, which allows you to evaluate the effects of various drugs and select appropriate treatment methods. Drugs are selected based on the recommendations of an oncologist, as well as on genomic sequencing to identify mutations.
⇒ More about the Curesponse test
Fugene Tests
Tests for hereditary cancer that performed on a saliva or blood sample. The tests sequence dozens of genes, and are designed to locate genetic changes associated with an increased risk of getting cancer. All the genes that are tested are those that have been scientifically proven to be directly related to the development of malignant tumors.
Three genetic tests for hereditary cancer
- Genetic test for hereditary cancer – 29 genes, Color laboratory: “Color” tests genetic carriers in genes related to 8 types of cancer – breast, colon, melanoma, ovary, pancreas, prostate, stomach and uterus. The test fully sequences 29 different genes.
- Comprehensive genetic test – 153 genes, Fulgent Laboratory: the most extensive genetic test to detect hereditary cancer, which tests carriers for 13 types of cancer: breast, ovary, intestine, uterus, stomach, blood, melanoma, neuro-brain, pancreas, gland Prostate, sarcoma, thyroid and bladder.
- Rapid genetic test – 9 genes, Fulgent laboratory: the test repeats in a time frame of 7-10 days. It is an extended genetic test for genes associated with breast cancer that provides a quick and necessary treatment time for surgical interventions. The genes tested in the test: ATM, BRCA1, BRCA2, CDH1, CHEK2, PALB2, PTEN, STK11, TP53
Additional information on the breast cancer treatment in Israel:
- ⇒ Lumpectomy – breast tumor removal in Israel – doctors, hospital, timing, cost
- ⇒ Recommendations for genetic testing for all women diagnosed with breast cancer, regardless of the risk of genetic mutations and heredity. American Society of Breast Surgeons (ASBrS).
- ⇒ Treatment of non-invasive breast cancer in situ in Israel
- ⇒ Triple negative breast cancer – modern treatment in Israel
- ⇒ New treatment options for breast cancer with brain metastases in Israel
