Tennessee Oncology, a physician-owned practice, has announced its adoption of the Breast Cancer Index, from bioTheranostics, Inc. This new cancer fighting tool addresses an unmet need no other commercially available test offers.
For patients with ER+, early stage, breast cancer, a specific type of cancer, the Breast Cancer Index allows oncologists to help their female patients better understand their risk of recurrence across a full 10-year time frame, and their likelihood of benefit from extended endocrine therapy. This new test allows patients and their oncologists to more effectively manage their individual cancer treatment.
Dr. Denise Yardley of Tennessee Oncology was the first oncologist in Tennessee to use the Breast Cancer Index. Her colleagues at the practice, Dr. Nancy Peacock and Dr. Jeffrey Infante, have also adopted the Breast Cancer Index.
Dr. Yardley explains the importance of this breakthrough test, saying, “ER+ breast cancer is not just a five-year disease. In fact, more than half of recurrences of ER+ breast cancer occur more than five years after primary treatment. Several diagnostic options exist to effectively predict patient risk of early recurrence (i.e., recurrences that may occur in the first five years), and the likelihood of response to adjuvant chemotherapy. However, until now, no biomarker (or measurable indicator) has been shown to also reliably predict late recurrence (i.e., recurrences that may occur more than five years after diagnosis), or help with the decision of whether to extend endocrine therapy beyond five years.
“BCI clinical research data have been published in over 10 peer-reviewed publications, and include over 2,200 patients. In 2013, pivotal studies were published in Lancet Oncology, Journal of the National Cancer Institute, and Clinical Cancer Research. The Breast Cancer Index is a highly valuable predictor that will help many breast cancer patients.”
Tennessee Oncology employs 80 physicians in 30 locations throughout Middle Tennessee, Chattanooga, and Northwest Georgia.