What is the difference between genetic tests (e.g., BRCA1 and BRCA2) and genomic tests (e.g., the Oncotype DX test)?
Genetic tests look at an individual’s inherited traits or genes. Genomic tests look at groups of genes and how active they are. The Oncotype DX test looks at a group of 21 genes and their activity in breast tumor tissue within the cancer itself. This activity can influence how likely breast cancer is to grow and respond to treatment. The Oncotype DX test does not provide information about an individual’s inherited genetic makeup. It provides information about the genomic activity of the tumor.
