Personalized Medicine in Breast Cancer Treatment: New Study Provides Insight into Radiotherapy Decisions

Strategic Insights -

Research from Brown University sheds light on the first prospective oncologic outcomes of radiotherapy decisions guided by a 12-gene molecular assay, the DCIS score (DS). The study focused on breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a condition that requires personalized treatment due to its variable natural history. The study aimed to assess surgical outcomes following preoperative breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in women with DCIS and estimate 5-year and 10-year ipsilateral breast event (IBE) rates in participants given DS-based postoperative radiotherapy recommendations after local excision (WLE).

Key Takeaways:

  • The study is the first to report prospective oncologic outcomes of radiotherapy decisions guided by a 12-gene molecular assay, the DCIS score (DS), for breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).
  • The study enrolled 1,044 women with screen-detected DCIS who were eligible for wide local excision (WLE) and received a preoperative breast MRI-guided surgical treatment.
  • The study found that women with intermediate/high DS may benefit from radiotherapy, while those with low DS may safely omit radiotherapy.
  • The study has been published in the journal JAMA Oncology and is available online.
  • The research was conducted at 75 institutions within the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ECOG-ACRIN).
  • The study's findings have implications for the treatment of DCIS and highlight the importance of personalized medicine in cancer treatment.

Statistics:

  • 1,044 women with screen-detected DCIS participated in the study.
  • The study was conducted at 75 institutions within the ECOG-ACRIN network.
  • 12-gene molecular assay, the DCIS score (DS), was used to guide radiotherapy decisions.
  • The study estimated 5-year and 10-year ipsilateral breast event (IBE) rates in participants given DS-based postoperative radiotherapy recommendations.
  • The study has been peer-reviewed and published in the journal JAMA Oncology.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. New Personalized Medicine Findings from Brown University Described (Radiotherapy With a 12-Gene Expression Assay for Ductal Carcinoma In Situ: A Randomized Clinical Trial). Medical Devices & Surgical Technology Week. November 2, 2025; p 1072.
  • JAMA Oncology. Radiotherapy With a 12-Gene Expression Assay for Ductal Carcinoma In Situ: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-American College of Radiology Imaging Network Biostatistics Center, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.