As we mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it’s vital to highlight the progress being made in the tools we use to diagnose and treat this complex disease. Among the latest innovations is the MammaTyper® assay, a technology that’s changing the way we understand and treat breast cancer by providing more precise insights into tumour biology.
Breast cancer is not one-size-fits-all. It’s a diverse disease, and the treatment approach often hinges on the accurate detection of biomarkers like HER2, oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and Ki67—key indicators that help guide treatment decisions. Traditionally, these markers have been assessed using immunohistochemistry (IHC), a well-established technique but one that has limitations.
Variability in results can occur due to subjective interpretation, particularly for markers like Ki67, which can have a significant impact on treatment plans.
This is where the MammaTyper® assay steps in. Using reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), MammaTyper® measures the mRNA levels of these biomarkers directly from tumour tissue, offering a more precise, objective, and reproducible method. This is especially crucial for patients with HER2-low or borderline cases, where traditional IHC can be inconclusive. By providing clear and quantitative data on the expression of these markers, MammaTyper® enables doctors to make more informed decisions about the need for therapies like anti-HER2 treatment.
In recent studies, including international trials, the MammaTyper® assay has shown high concordance with IHC but with significantly reduced variability, especially in identifying HER2 status. This technology improves the ability to predict which patients will benefit from specific therapies, reducing the risk of recurrence for those with HER2-positive breast cancer by ensuring the right treatment is given from the start
Moreover, MammaTyper® offers clearer insights into Ki67 expression, a marker used to assess how rapidly cancer cells are dividing. Traditional IHC assessments of Ki67 can be inconsistent, but with MammaTyper®, doctors get a more reliable picture of tumour proliferation, aiding in decisions about the intensity of treatment needed.
As we continue to push the boundaries of precision medicine, tools like MammaTyper® are empowering healthcare professionals to tailor treatment strategies to everyone’s cancer profile. This means better outcomes for patients, fewer unnecessary treatments, and a more targeted approach to battling breast cancer.
During this Breast Cancer Awareness Month, let’s celebrate the progress being made and acknowledge the importance of integrating these advanced diagnostic tools into everyday clinical practice. Early, accurate diagnosis and personalised treatment can transform lives—and that’s a future we can all be hopeful for.