Evidence-Based Supplement & Herb Guides

HER2 Breast Cancer Test: IHC, FISH, HER2 Score, Amplification, and HER2-Low Status

Understand HER2 breast cancer testing, including IHC scores, FISH amplification, positive and negative results, HER2-low, HER2-ultralow, and treatment meaning.

A HER2 breast cancer test determines how much HER2 protein a tumor expresses and, when needed, whether the HER2 gene is amplified. The result...

HER2 FISH Test for Breast Cancer: Gene Amplification, HER2 Status, and Result Meaning

Learn how the HER2 FISH test measures gene amplification, how HER2/CEP17 ratio and copy number define ISH groups, and what positive or negative results mean.

A HER2 FISH test examines breast cancer cells for extra copies of the HER2 gene, also called ERBB2. It is most often used when...

HER2 IHC Test for Breast Cancer: Protein Expression Score, HER2-Low, and Result Meaning

Learn how HER2 IHC scores 0, 1+, 2+, and 3+ are interpreted, what HER2-low and ultralow mean, when FISH is needed, and how results guide breast cancer therapy.

A HER2 IHC test measures HER2 protein on the surface of breast cancer cells and reports a score of 0, 1+, 2+, or 3+....

HER2-Low Breast Cancer Test: IHC Score, HER2 Expression, and Tumor Classification

Learn how HER2-low breast cancer is identified by IHC 1+ or IHC 2+/ISH-negative results, how scores are interpreted, and why HER2 expression can affect treatment.

A HER2-low breast cancer test is not a separate laboratory test. It is a way of interpreting the amount of HER2 protein seen on...

Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer Biomarker Panel: ER, PR, ESR1, PIK3CA, and Tumor Profile

A hormone receptor-positive breast cancer biomarker panel is not one universal laboratory panel. It is the combined set of pathology and molecular tests used...

Ki-67 Breast Cancer Test: Proliferation Score, Tumor Grade, and Prognosis Meaning

Learn what a Ki-67 breast cancer score measures, how percentages relate to proliferation and tumor grade, which cutoffs are useful, and why results need clinical context.

The Ki-67 breast cancer test estimates how actively tumor cells are dividing. A pathologist stains tumor tissue for the Ki-67 protein and reports the...

MammaPrint Test: Breast Cancer Recurrence Risk and Genomic Risk Score

Learn how the MammaPrint 70-gene breast cancer test classifies genomic recurrence risk, what Low, High, and UltraLow results mean, and how it can inform chemotherapy decisions.

MammaPrint is a 70-gene expression test used in selected people with early-stage invasive breast cancer to estimate the risk of distant recurrence. It analyzes...

Mammostrat Test: Breast Cancer Prognosis and Risk Classification

Mammostrat was a five-protein breast cancer prognosis test that classified low, moderate, and high recurrence risk; learn how it worked, what old results mean, and why it is no longer used.

Mammostrat was a five-marker immunohistochemistry test developed to estimate recurrence risk in early breast cancer, especially estrogen receptor-positive disease treated with endocrine therapy. It...

Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score Test: Recurrence Risk, Genomic Score, and Prognosis

Oncotype DX measures 21 tumor genes to produce a Breast Recurrence Score from 0 to 100; learn how node status, age, menopause, and pathology shape recurrence risk and chemotherapy decisions.

The Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score test is a tumor gene-expression assay used mainly in early-stage, hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative invasive breast cancer. It analyzes...

PALB2 Test for Breast Cancer: Cancer Risk, DNA Repair, Variant Meaning, and Family Risk

PALB2 testing can reveal inherited DNA-repair variants linked to breast and family cancer risk; learn what positive, negative, and uncertain results mean and how they affect screening.

A PALB2 test looks for inherited changes in the PALB2 gene that can raise the risk of breast cancer and several other cancers. PALB2...

PD-L1 Test for Breast Cancer: Immunotherapy Marker, CPS Score, and Expression Meaning

PD-L1 testing in breast cancer uses tumor-tissue immunohistochemistry and CPS scoring; learn why CPS 10 matters in metastatic TNBC and why early-stage treatment is different.

The PD-L1 test for breast cancer is an immunohistochemistry test used mainly to help determine whether certain patients with advanced triple-negative breast cancer may...

PIK3CA Mutation Test for Breast Cancer: Mutation Status, PI3K Pathway, and Result Meaning

PIK3CA testing detects PI3K-pathway mutations in breast cancer; learn how tissue and ctDNA results are interpreted and how positive findings can guide targeted therapy.

A PIK3CA mutation test looks for tumor DNA changes that activate the PI3K signaling pathway, one of the most commonly altered growth pathways in...

Progesterone Receptor (PR) Test: Breast Cancer Hormone Receptor Status, Positive Score, and Meaning

The progesterone receptor test measures PR nuclear staining in breast cancer; learn the 1% positive threshold, how PR is interpreted with ER, and what low or negative results mean.

The progesterone receptor, or PR, test is an immunohistochemistry test performed on breast cancer tissue to determine whether tumor-cell nuclei contain progesterone receptor protein....

Prosigna PAM50 Test: Breast Cancer Subtype, Recurrence Risk, and Molecular Classification

Prosigna PAM50 measures breast tumor gene expression to report molecular subtype and a 0–100 Risk of Recurrence score; learn how nodal status and menopause shape interpretation.

The Prosigna PAM50 test is a gene-expression assay used in selected patients with early-stage, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer to estimate the risk of distant...

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Biomarker Test: ER, PR, HER2, PD-L1, BRCA, and Tumor Profile

A triple-negative breast cancer biomarker workup starts by proving what the tumor does not express: estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and HER2 at...

4Kscore Test: PSA Markers, Prostate Cancer Risk Score, and Result Meaning

Learn how the 4Kscore combines four PSA-related kallikrein markers with clinical factors to estimate significant prostate cancer risk and guide MRI or biopsy decisions.

The 4Kscore test is a blood test used after prostate cancer risk has already become a concern, often because prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is elevated...

5-HIAA Blood Test: Carcinoid Syndrome, Serotonin Metabolism, Neuroendocrine Tumors, and Meaning

Understand what a 5-HIAA blood test measures, what high levels can mean in carcinoid syndrome and neuroendocrine tumors, and how blood results compare with 24-hour urine testing.

A 5-HIAA blood test measures 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, the main breakdown product of serotonin. It is used mainly when a serotonin-producing neuroendocrine tumor is suspected...

Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) Blood Test: High Levels, Liver Disease, Liver Cancer, and Germ Cell Tumors

Learn what an AFP blood test measures, why AFP rises in liver disease, hepatocellular carcinoma, and germ cell tumors, and how normal ranges and trends guide follow-up.

Alpha-fetoprotein, or AFP, is a protein made in large amounts by the fetal liver and yolk sac but normally present only at low levels...

Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) Tumor Marker Test: Granulosa Cell Tumors, Tumor Activity, and Follow-Up

Learn how AMH is used as a tumor marker for granulosa cell tumors, why levels can rise, how trends are followed after treatment, and how AMH compares with inhibin B.

Anti-Müllerian hormone, or AMH, is best known as a blood marker of ovarian reserve, but it also has an important tumor-marker role in ovarian...

Beta-2 Microglobulin Blood Test: Myeloma, Lymphoma, Leukemia, Kidney Function, and Prognosis

Learn how beta-2 microglobulin is used in myeloma, lymphoma, and leukemia, why kidney function raises B2M, and how staging thresholds and trends are interpreted.

Beta-2 microglobulin, usually shortened to beta-2 microglobulin or B2M, is a small protein released from the surface of most nucleated cells. A blood B2M...