--- title: Prosigna url: https://breastcancernow.org/about-breast-cancer/diagnosis/prosigna updated: 2026-03-24T01:04:28Z --- [Back to Diagnosis](https://breastcancernow.org/about-breast-cancer/diagnosis) 1. [Home](https://breastcancernow.org/) 2. [About breast cancer](https://breastcancernow.org/about-breast-cancer) 3. [Diagnosis](https://breastcancernow.org/about-breast-cancer/diagnosis) Healthcare Information # Prosigna Prosigna is a test that predicts how likely breast cancer is to spread. Find out more about Prosigna, including who it's suitable for and what the Prosigna score means. ## Speak to a nurse If you have any concerns about breast cancer, or just want to talk, our specialist nurses are here for you [0808 800 6000](tel:0808%20800%206000) We are open weekdays 9am to 4pm. Saturday 9am to 1pm ## In this section - 1. What is the Prosigna test? - 2. Who Prosigna is for - 3. Why it's used - 4. How it works - 5. Prosigna score - 6. Availability and cost ## 1. What is the Prosigna test? Prosigna is a test that predicts how likely breast cancer is to spread to somewhere else in the body. It's suitable for people who will be taking [hormone therapy](https://breastcancernow.org/about-breast-cancer/treatment/hormone-endocrine-therapy "Hormone (endocrine) therapy") for at least 5 years. Prosigna can help your treatment team decide whether you would benefit from having chemotherapy. Close Glossary term ## Chemotherapy A treatment that destroys cancer cells using anti-cancer drugs. It works by affecting their ability to divide and grow. ## 2. Who Prosigna is for Prosigna may be suitable if you’ve recently been diagnosed with: - Early stage invasive breast cancer - That is [oestrogen receptor](https://breastcancernow.org/about-breast-cancer/diagnosis/hormone-receptors-and-breast-cancer "Hormone receptors and breast cancer") positive (ER-positive) - And [HER2](https://breastcancernow.org/about-breast-cancer/diagnosis/her2 "HER2")-negative ### If cancer is in 1 to 3 lymph nodes If breast cancer has spread to 1 to 3 lymph nodes under the arm, Prosigna may be offered to: - Women who have been through the menopause - Men - Some trans, non-binary or intersex people ### If there’s no cancer in the lymph nodes Prosigna may be offered to help you decide whether to have chemotherapy if: - Breast cancer has not spread to any lymph nodes, or if a small amount of cancer is in the lymph nodes (micrometastases) - And you’ve been told you have an intermediate risk of breast cancer spreading to another part of the body Close Glossary term ## invasive Cancer that has the potential to spread to other parts of the body. ## 3. Why it's used Drug ### [Benefits of chemotherapy for primary breast cancer](https://breastcancernow.org/about-breast-cancer/treatment/chemotherapy/benefits-of-chemotherapy-for-primary-breast-cancer) Learn about the benefits of chemotherapy and whether chemotherapy might be the right treatment for you. Your specialist may recommend the Prosigna test to help decide if other treatments, particularly chemotherapy, are needed. [Chemotherapy](https://breastcancernow.org/about-breast-cancer/treatment/chemotherapy "Chemotherapy") may be given after surgery to reduce the risk of breast cancer coming back in the future. Whether you’re offered chemotherapy depends on a number of features of your breast cancer. These include: - The [size](https://breastcancernow.org/about-breast-cancer/diagnosis/breast-cancer-size "Breast cancer size") and [grade](https://breastcancernow.org/about-breast-cancer/diagnosis/breast-cancer-grade "Cancer grade") of the cancer - Whether it has spread to any of the lymph nodes under the arm - Whether the cancer is hormone receptor and HER2 positive or negative For some people the benefit of chemotherapy is clear, but for others it’s less clear. ## 4. How it works ### How the test is done The test is done on a small amount of breast cancer tissue already removed (for example during a core biopsy or surgery). The tissue is sent to a laboratory in the UK that may be outside your local hospital, where the test is carried out. The test looks at groups of genes found in breast cancer and features of the breast cancer to produce a score. If your specialist has recommended you have hormone therapy before surgery, the test must be done on the tissue removed by a core biopsy before you start hormone therapy. ### How long results take The results are given separately from your [pathology report](https://breastcancernow.org/about-breast-cancer/diagnosis/your-pathology-results "Your pathology results") and are sent to your specialist usually within 7 days. Close Glossary term ## Core biopsy A core biopsy uses a needle to take samples of breast tissue and is done with local anaesthetic. The samples are sent to a laboratory to be looked at under a microscope. ## 5. Prosigna score The test gives a Recurrence Score between 0 and 100. Based on this score and whether any lymph nodes under the arm are affected, the results are reported as low, intermediate or high risk. Your specialist will use this score, along with other information about your breast cancer, to help decide what treatment to recommend. ### Low risk A low risk score means it’s unlikely the breast cancer will spread to somewhere else in the body. Most people with a low risk score will not need chemotherapy. You're at low risk if you have a score of: - 0 to 40 and no breast cancer in any lymph nodes - 0 to 15 with breast cancer in up to 3 lymph nodes ### Intermediate risk An intermediate risk score means the decision whether to have chemotherapy is less clear. Your specialist will discuss your test result with you to help decide what to recommend. You're at intermediate risk if you have a score of: - 41 to 60 and no breast cancer in any lymph nodes - 16 to 40 with breast cancer in up to 3 lymph nodes ### High risk A high risk score means it’s more likely the breast cancer will spread to somewhere else in the body. Chemotherapy is recommended for most people with a high risk score. You're at high risk if you have a score of: - 61 to 100 and no breast cancer in any lymph nodes - 41 to 100 with breast cancer in up to 3 lymph nodes ## 6. Availability and cost Healthcare Information ### [Your pathology results](https://breastcancernow.org/about-breast-cancer/diagnosis/your-pathology-results) Your pathology results give details about your breast cancer that help decide the treatment you’re offered. Find out more about what they mean. If Prosigna is suitable for you, it’s usually available on the NHS across the UK. Most private healthcare companies will also cover the cost of the test. You can also pay for the test yourself. Your treatment team will need to order the test for you and will be sent the results to discuss with you. It costs around £1,400. ### Was this helpful? Thank you for your feedback ### Was this helpful? Was this helpful? Yes No Please tell us what you liked about it. 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