What does MammaPrint mean on a biomarker or pathology report?
MammaPrint is a gene test that sorts some breast cancers into lower or higher risk of coming back. It can help decide whether added treatment like chemotherapy is worthwhile. It is one input among many in planning.
Please read: This page explains general report language and cannot interpret your personal report, diagnose a condition, judge how serious a result is, or recommend treatment. Only your care team can do that.
How to read receptors & markers results
Receptor and biomarker results describe features of the cancer itself — proteins, hormone receptors, or gene changes that can point toward treatments more likely to help. A result is usually reported as positive or negative, a percentage, or a score, and the cut-off that counts as 'positive' can differ by cancer type and by lab. These tests are powerful for matching treatment, but one marker is only part of the plan, and borderline results are sometimes repeated or confirmed with a second method. Your oncologist reads each marker alongside the rest of your testing.
Questions to ask your care team
- Which markers were positive or negative, and how do they affect my treatment choices?
- Do any of my results open up targeted or hormone therapies?
- Should any borderline result be repeated or confirmed another way?
- Is more molecular or genomic testing worth doing in my case?
Related receptors & markers terms
- Estrogen receptor (ER)The estrogen receptor (ER) test shows whether breast cancer cells have receptors for the hormone estrogen.
- Progesterone receptor (PR)The progesterone receptor (PR) test shows whether breast cancer cells respond to the hormone progesterone.
- HER2 statusHER2 is a protein that can make some cancers grow faster.
- Triple negativeTriple negative breast cancer tests negative for ER, PR, and HER2.
- Hormone receptor statusHormone receptor status combines the ER and PR results.
- FISH testFISH is a lab test that counts copies of a gene, such as HER2, inside the cells.
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