A breakthrough test that will transform clinical cancer care and could help women diagnosed with breast cancer avoid unnecessary chemotherapy is now being covered on all Aviva health insurance plans.
- New Oncotype DX test enables more personalised and appropriate patient treatment.
A breakthrough test that will transform clinical cancer care and could help women diagnosed with breast cancer avoid unnecessary chemotherapy is now being covered on all Aviva health insurance plans. The test helps Oncologists predict the benefit of chemotherapy for particular patients diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. Aviva announced today that it will fully cover the new Oncotype DX test which costs €3,180 per test, making Aviva the first and only health insurer in Ireland to cover this pioneering technology.
The test is already in use in other countries such as the United States, Germany and the UK, but until today’s announcement, was only available in Ireland as part of a clinical trial that took place between 2007 and August 2010 or it was paid for in full by an individual.
Leading consultant medical oncologist, Professor Bryan Hennessy, who recently returned from one of the world’s leading cancer research centres, The University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Centre to Beaumont Hospital, said today: "The use of the genomic test could initially mean that of the 2,800 plus women diagnosed with breast cancer in Ireland each year, up to 2001 of these women may no longer require chemotherapy who previously would have. The test will inevitably transform clinical care for patients and reduce the number of women who may have to undergo chemotherapy unnecessarily."
The Oncotype DX breast cancer assay is a 21-gene test that predicts the patient’s likely benefit from chemotherapy as well as their likelihood of breast cancer recurrence. The test provides oncologists with more detailed, patient specific information to help them decide on the best clinical care for their patient. The Oncotype DX test examines the exact nature of an early stage breast cancer tumour and the likelihood of the condition recurring within 10 years.
Commenting on the announcement, Professor Bryan Hennessy, said: "The Oncotype DX test is a major step forward for clinicians and patients in Ireland, affording them greater information about an individual’s breast cancer. By identifying those women who have a low recurrence score, we can eliminate the number of women undergoing chemotherapy unnecessarily. Importantly, the test also identifies those patients who may gain significant benefit from chemotherapy but through conventional diagnosis may not have been prescribed it."
Consultants request the test on behalf of their patients and Aviva members diagnosed with a particular form2 of breast cancer will be fully covered for the test that ordinarily costs €3,180. When the test is requested by the consultant and approved by Aviva, a small amount of tissue, that has already been removed during the patient’s surgery, is sent to Genomic Health’s CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited clinical reference laboratory in the USA for testing by a team of expert pathologists.
A report detailing the patient’s recurrence score is prepared and returned to the ordering physician within nine to 12 calendar days for discussion with the patient. The Recurrence Score is a number between one and 100 that indicates the patient’s risk of recurrence and likely chemotherapy benefit.
Consultant medical oncologist, Dr Oscar S Breathnach of Aviva’s medical council said: "Aviva continue to be innovators in the Irish healthcare industry, looking for ways to make treatments more accessible and affordable. As a health insurer, Aviva understands how important it is to make the latest breast cancer medical innovations available to our members, by covering the Oncotype DX test, Consultants and their patients will know more about their condition so they can make a more informed and personalised treatment plan for every patient without the financial worry associated with this type of pioneering technology."
Mike Falahee, manager, Genomic Health Ireland said: "We are very pleased Aviva has chosen to provide their health members with ready access to the test here in Ireland, recognising the great benefits Oncotype DX can afford clinicians and patients."
Those suitable for the Oncotype DX test include women (and men) with early stage, oestrogen receptor positive, lymph-node negative breast cancer. Aviva members may avail of the Oncotype DX test at the eight designated cancer centres and associated private hospitals including; Beaumont Hospital, Cork University Hospital, Mater University, Mater Private, Mid Western Regional, St James’s Hospital, St Vincent’s Public and Private, Waterford Regional, and University College Hospital Galway as well as the Bon Secours Hospital, Cork.
All existing Aviva health members3 are covered on all Aviva Health insurance plans at all levels under in-patient benefits in these hospitals. The test must be requested by the consultant oncologist treating the patient and is subject to pre-authorisation by Aviva.
Vanessa Hartley, group marketing director at Aviva commented: “Aviva recognises the need for advanced research and treatments in breast cancer. The introduction of Oncotype DX on all our Health insurance plans demonstrates our commitment to leading the market in innovation. Earlier this year, Aviva, in association with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), announced the creation of Ireland’s first Breast Cancer Bio Resource of tissue and serum samples with initial seed funding worth €450,000 over the next three years.
"Aviva was the first insurer to contribute towards cervical cancer vaccination and recently launched the Aviva Schools CCV Catch-Up Programme making cervical cancer vaccinations accessible to up to 150,000 girls in 3rd to 6th year of secondary school. The scheme will bridge the gap in the Government’s National HPV Vaccination Programme."
For more information on the Oncotype DX test or health insurance cover with Aviva visit www.avivahealth.ie or www.oncotypedx.com.
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1 Preliminary figures from the National Cancer Registry of Ireland (NCRI) indicates there were 2,837 new cases of breast cancer in 2008 www.ncri.ie.
The figure of "up to 200" who may avoid chemotherapy is based on similar experience in other jurisdictions.
2 Early stage, oestrogen receptor positive, lymph node negative, Her2 negative breast cancer.
3 Existing Aviva health members as of 30 November 2010, subject to applicable waiting periods. Standard waiting periods apply new Aviva health members after 30 November 2010.
Hospitals with the Oncotype DX service:
- Mater University
- Mater Private
- St Vincent’s Public
- St Vincent’s Private
- St James
- Beaumont
- Mid Western Regional (Limerick)
- Waterford Regional
- Cork University Hospital
- University College Hospital Galway
- Bon Secours Hospital, Cork
About Aviva Health Insurance Ireland Limited
Aviva Health Insurance Ireland Limited, Ireland’s fastest growing private health insurer, is a division of Aviva Group Ireland plc, Ireland’s leading insurance company with 1.2 million customers across the general insurance, life and pensions and health insurance sectors.
Aviva Group Ireland plc is a subsidiary of Aviva plc. Aviva is one of the world’s largest savings, general insurance and investment groups with the purpose of delivering prosperity and peace of mind to its customers.
About Oncotype DX
The Oncotype DX breast cancer test is the only multi-gene expression test available that has clinical evidence validating its ability to predict the likelihood of chemotherapy benefit as well as recurrence in early-stage breast cancer. Additionally, the test report provides quantitative scores for certain individual genes.
The Oncotype DX breast cancer test has been extensively evaluated in thirteen clinical studies involving more than 4,000 breast cancer patients worldwide, including a large validation study published in The New England Journal of Medicine and a chemotherapy benefit study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. To date, more than 10,000 physicians in 55 countries have ordered more than 150,000 tests.
Both the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommend the use of Oncotype DX for patients with node-negative breast cancer that is estrogen-receptor positive and/or progesterone-receptor positive.
For more information about Oncotype DX, please visit www.oncotypedx.com.
About TAILORx
TAILORx was a clinical trial conducted in Ireland (and other countries) between 2007 and August 2010 and run by the All Ireland Cooperative Research Oncology Group (ICORG). TAILORx sought to incorporate the Oncotype DX assay into clinical decision making to help identify women for whom chemotherapy was likely to have substantial or little benefit - this is particularly relevant for patients whose tumours received an Intermediate Recurrence Score.
The TAILORx trial presented Irish oncologists and their patients an opportunity to gain vital knowledge about their individual cancers and the ability to design a personal treatment plan accordingly. The trial also enabled Irish physicians to become familiar with the assay process. Nearly 700 women partook in the trial in Ireland and approximately 11,000 women worldwide.
About Genomic Health
Genomic Health Inc. (NASDAQ: GHDX) is a life science company focused on the development of genomic-based clinical laboratory services for cancer that allow physicians and patients to make individualised treatment decisions. In 2004, Genomic Health launched the Oncotype DX® breast cancer test, which has been shown to predict the likelihood of chemotherapy benefit as well as recurrence in early-stage breast cancer. The company was founded in 2000 and is located in Redwood City, California. For more information, please visit www.genomichealth.com