Genomic testing (tumour profiling)

Genomic tests analyse genes in the breast cancer tumour.

Genomic testing (also called tumour profiling) may be helpful when the benefit of chemotherapy or hormone-blocking therapy is unclear or uncertain.

Testing can predict or provide information about:

• how likely it is that the cancer will return (recur)
• how well treatment with chemotherapy or hormone-blocking therapy may help reduce the risk of recurrence.

Ask your treating team if genomic testing is suitable for your type and subtype of breast cancer.

Genomic testing is different from genetic testing, which looks for a gene mutation (faulty gene) such as BRCA1 or BRCA2 in the DNA of your normal cells.

The costs of genomic testing

Genomic tests are expensive. For most tests, Medicare does not give any rebate, so you will have to pay for them.

The price range is about $2,200 to more than $6,000. We explain the options below.

Note that the costs were accurate in March 2025. They may change over time due to the exchange rate and price rises.

Types of genomic tests

Your doctor may talk to you about the option relevant to your type and subtype of breast cancer.

You do not need to provide a new tissue sample. The tissue removed during breast cancer surgery can be sent to the lab for genomic testing.

EndoPredict 

EndoPredict analyses 12 genes. In pre and postmenopausal people who take hormone-blocking therapy for 5 years, it predicts how likely breast cancer is to recur, or spread to another part of the body, within 0 to 10 years and 5 to 15 years.

This can help you and your doctor decide whether chemotherapy and/or additional hormone-blocking therapy may benefit to you.

Breast cancer types

Hormone receptor positive, HER2-negative early breast cancer, where you have 0 to 3 lymph nodes positive for cancer.

How long results take

Your doctor will usually receive results within 10 working days. The test is processed in Australia.

Understand the results

The result considers the tissue analysis, the tumour size and whether there was cancer in any lymph nodes. This creates a score called an EPclin Risk Score, a number between 1.1 and 6.2.

The score can help you make a decision about chemotherapy or additional hormone-blocking therapy.

Other factors that may influence this decision include:

• the subtype (‘pathology’) of your cancer
• your age.

Cost

$2,300, with a partial Medicare rebate. You'll need to pay the full amount first, then claim the rebate back from Medicare. 

Oncotype DX 

Oncotype DX analyses 21 genes. It predicts how likely it is that:

• the breast cancer will come back after surgery
• chemotherapy will be beneficial or not.

Breast cancer types

For early breast cancers that are hormone receptor positive, HER2-negative, where:

• the cancer has not spread to any lymph nodes (lymph nodes are ‘negative’)
• in postmenopausal people, cancer has spread to 3 nodes or fewer.

Note: this test was not designed to be used in premenopausal women. The results may not accurate.

How long results take

The test is processed in the US. Your doctor will usually receive results within 2 to 3 weeks.

Understand the results

The test gives a score of between 0 and 100. People who score above a certain number (it depends on your age) are more likely to be offered chemotherapy.

Doctors consider the score with other factors, including your age, and the size and grade of the breast cancer. This helps you and your doctors make a decision about chemotherapy.

Cost

About $5,000

Prosigna 

Prosigna analyses 50 genes.

It predicts how likely the breast cancer is to recur, or spread to another part of the body, within 10 years in postmenopausal people who take hormone-blocking therapy for 5 years.

This can help you:

• decide whether it is beneficial to continue hormone-blocking therapy for another 5 years, to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back elsewhere in the body
• understand how much you may benefit from chemotherapy after surgery (‘adjuvant’ chemotherapy).

Breast cancer types

Hormone receptor positive, HER2-negative early breast cancer, where:

• there is no cancer in the lymph nodes (lymph nodes are ‘negative’), or
• 3 lymph nodes or fewer are positive.

Note: this test was not designed to be used in premenopausal women. The results may not accurate.

How long results take

Your doctor will usually receive results within 10 working days. The test is processed in Australia.

Understand the results

The results reflect the analysis, the size of the tumour and the number of lymph nodes that had cancer in them (positive nodes). This creates a score between 0 and 100, and the ‘intrinsic subtype’.

The score and subtype can help you decide whether to continue taking hormone-blocking therapy for an additional 5 years.

Other factors that may influence this decision include:

• your age
• the pathology of the cancer
• whether cancer was found in nearby lymph nodes
• your personal preference, such as the impact of side effects from hormone-blocking therapy.

Cost

$3,300

Mammaprint genomic test

MammaPrint analyses 70 genes. It looks for changes linked to a higher risk of the breast cancer coming back after surgery.

For people over 50, the result can help decide on the likely benefit of hormone-blocking therapy and chemotherapy.

Breast cancer types

Early breast cancer that is hormone receptor positive and hormone receptor negative, where:

• there is no cancer in the lymph nodes (lymph nodes are ‘negative’), or
• 3 lymph nodes or fewer are positive.

How long results take

Your doctor will usually receive results within 2 to 3 weeks. The test is processed overseas.

Understand the results

The test gives a recurrence score that is either low risk or high risk. You and your doctor can make a decision about chemotherapy using this score and other factors:

• your age
• the pathology of your cancer
• whether cancer was found in the lymph nodes
• your general health.

Cost

Around $6,150.