The Impact of Clinical and Demographic Factors on High-Risk Patient Classification Frequencies by the EndoPredict Test: A Review and Single-Site Study

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: EndoPredict is a second-generation prognostic assay for estrogen-receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer that integrates molecular and clinical parameters for risk stratification. Multiple studies have reported its clinical utility, while differences in the proportion of patients classified as high- or low-risk have been observed across cohorts. This study aimed to characterize clinical, pathological, and demographic factors associated with these differences. <b>Methods</b>: We conducted a descriptive review of 17 published studies and analyzed a single-institution cohort of 140 patients. Associations between clinicopathological variables and high-risk classification were assessed, including tumor size, lymph node status, histological grade, Ki-67 expression, and reproductive and demographic factors. Differences in inclusion criteria and cohort characteristics were also examined. <b>Results</b>: Tumor size and lymph node involvement emerged as primary determinants of high-risk classification. A high histological grade and Ki-67 levels above 25% were significantly associated with high-risk status (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Conversely, age, age at menarche, menopausal status, Body Mass Index, progesterone receptor expression, molecular subtype, and histological type showed no significant association. A higher number of pregnancies correlated with a lower frequency of high-risk classification (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Heterogeneity in risk distribution across studies was largely attributable to differences in tumor size, nodal involvement, and histological grade. Additional variability was associated with inclusion criteria, sample selection, and regional demographic characteristics. <b>Conclusions</b>: Variability in EndoPredict risk classification reflects both tumor biological features and population-specific factors. These findings emphasize the importance of interpreting genomic risk scores within their clinical and demographic context and support the comparison of risk distributions across heterogeneous patient cohorts.

Authors

Publication Details

Journal
Cancers
Published
2026-03-14
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18060951
Primary Topic
Breast Cancer Treatment Studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

The Impact of Clinical and Demographic Factors on High-Risk Patient Classification Frequencies by the EndoPredict Test: A Review and Single-Site Study

Paolo Fontana, Gabriele Raciti, Stefano Forte
Cancers
Breast Cancer Treatment Studies
article

The Impact of Clinical and Demographic Factors on High-Risk Patient Classification Frequencies by the EndoPredict Test: A Review and Single-Site Study

Paolo Fontana, Gabriele Raciti, Stefano Forte
article en

Abstract

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: EndoPredict is a second-generation prognostic assay for estrogen-receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer that integrates molecular and clinical parameters for risk stratification. Multiple studies have reported its clinical utility, while differences in the proportion of patients classified as high- or low-risk have been observed across cohorts. This study aimed to characterize clinical, pathological, and demographic factors associated with these differences. <b>Methods</b>: We conducted a descriptive review of 17 published studies and analyzed a single-institution cohort of 140 patients. Associations between clinicopathological variables and high-risk classification were assessed, including tumor size, lymph node status, histological grade, Ki-67 expression, and reproductive and demographic factors. Differences in inclusion criteria and cohort characteristics were also examined. <b>Results</b>: Tumor size and lymph node involvement emerged as primary determinants of high-risk classification. A high histological grade and Ki-67 levels above 25% were significantly associated with high-risk status (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Conversely, age, age at menarche, menopausal status, Body Mass Index, progesterone receptor expression, molecular subtype, and histological type showed no significant association. A higher number of pregnancies correlated with a lower frequency of high-risk classification (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Heterogeneity in risk distribution across studies was largely attributable to differences in tumor size, nodal involvement, and histological grade. Additional variability was associated with inclusion criteria, sample selection, and regional demographic characteristics. <b>Conclusions</b>: Variability in EndoPredict risk classification reflects both tumor biological features and population-specific factors. These findings emphasize the importance of interpreting genomic risk scores within their clinical and demographic context and support the comparison of risk distributions across heterogeneous patient cohorts.

CancersVol. 18(6)
Reduced inequalities
Openalex Percentile: Top 20%
Breast Cancer Treatment Studies
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.