Each breast cancer is unique. Breast cancer typing can identify the differences between tumours, allowing The London Clinic to offer our patients customised care.
Need answers quickly?
Our Rapid Diagnostics Centre offers fast access to advanced imaging, specialist clinics and on-site testing - helping you get clarity in days, not weeks. Plus, our 24/7 private GP service is here whenever you need urgent advice.
Our charitable purpose
As a charitable hospital, we reinvest in exceptional care, research and innovation - helping us improve healthcare for patients here and far beyond our walls.
Everything you need for your visit
Your Patient Hub brings together everything you need to prepare for your visit, understand your care and know what to expect throughout your stay.
Breast cancer typing
Also known as: Gene expression profiling (GEP)
Easy access
Call us today to book an appointment
Fast referral
Get seen and treated within 14 days
What is it for?
Identify the differences between tumours
On this page
Treatment overview
Techniques for the diagnosis, assessment and treatment of breast cancer have become more sophisticated.
The London Clinic offers special tests to look at groups of genes in the tumours.
Breast cancer typing or gene expression profiling (GEP) can predict how likely a particular cancer is to grow and spread, enabling our consultants to plan the very best treatment for each individual cancer.
The London Clinic offers investigations and tests for breast cancer in a private, comfortable and stress-free environment.
Our world-leading specialists will provide you with the information and support you need to fully understand the tests and the implications of the results.
Diagnostic information
Understanding your investigation
Gene expression profiling (GEP) is a method of looking at cancer cells and analysing the activity of certain genes.
This can help predict the behaviour of the cancer, including the likelihood that it will grow rapidly and spread to other parts of the body.
The tests can be done on core biopsies, which are performed under local anaesthetic in the clinic. However, they are often carried out on sections from the tumour, after it has been removed.
This allows your consultant to plan whether any further treatment after surgery would be valuable.
It is important to understand that gene expression profiling (GEP) is not the same as genetic testing.
Genetic testing focuses on conditions that run in some families. For breast cancer, this involves looking for the faulty genes BRCA1 and BRCA2, which may be linked to cancer in around 1 in 20 women.
FAQs
The London Clinic offers two of the latest methods of breast cancer typing:
EndoPredict
The EndoPredict® test looks at the activity of eight different genes within a tumour sample.The test then uses the information, alongside the size of the tumour and their nodal status (whether or not the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes) to give a score estimating the risk of the breast cancer spreading to other organs – where it becomes incurable – in the next ten years.
Oncotype DX
The Oncotype DX® test looks at 21 genes within the cancer cells, it is usually used in the assessment of intermediate cancers.It is carried out on the cancer after it has been removed by your surgeon. The sample is sent to a dedicated laboratory in the USA, for specialist analysis.A Recurrence Score is calculated, and given as a number between 0 and 100. A high number indicates a greater risk of the disease returning.
The results of breast cancer typing are sent to your specialist within 10–14 days. You will be given an appointment to discuss the results.At this stage, your consultant will explain the findings of the analysis and the implications for your health.A treatment programme can then be planned, always bearing in mind your feelings, opinions and general health.
We offer Fixed Price Packages
Where possible, we’ll provide a fixed-price package for your hospital care. This covers your hospital stay, nursing, and use of our facilities, giving you a clear guide to what those costs will be.
- Pre-op assessment
- Hospital stay, nursing care and meals
- Tests, scans and physio during your stay
- Take-home medication (up to 5 days)
- Post-op follow-up appointments
- Standard equipment or prosthesis (if needed)
- Unplanned extended stay or ITU (if clinically required)
- Initial consultation and any tests done during it
- Consultant and anaesthetist fees (quoted separately)
- Physio or therapy before or after your stay
- Diagnostics before admission (unless agreed in your plan)
- Specialist medication beyond 5 days
- Ambulance transport or bespoke prosthetics
Your consultant’s fees are quoted separately and shared directly by their office after your consultation. These professional fees cover the time, expertise, and care provided by your consultant before, during, and after your treatment. See our full terms and conditions
Why choose The London Clinic?
Trusted for over 90 years, The London Clinic is an independent charitable hospital that reinvests into care, research, and support for those who can’t easily access private treatment.
The UK’s largest independent hospital
More patients choose The London Clinic than any other.
Top-rated by real patients
4.86/5 from over 1,600 reviews on Doctify and over 4.5 on Google.
Full intensive care on-site
World-class 13-bed ICU for expert support if your care becomes complex.
Investing in clinical excellence
Backed by Northwestern, we equip our teams with cutting-edge medical equipment.
0% Finance Options
We’ve teamed up with Chrysalis to offer you funding options that allow you to spread the cost of your treatment.
If you choose to pay for your treatment at The London Clinic over 12 months, you can make use of a great 0% interest option and pay nothing extra. Or you can choose to pay over two to five years at 14.9% APR.
Trustees of the London Clinic Ltd trading as The London Clinic is an Appointed Representative of Chrysalis Finance Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The London Clinic is a credit broker, not a lender. The provider of a payment scheme which is not offered through or by Chrysalis Finance Limited may not be so authorised and regulated. Cancer treatments or transplants aren’t covered by finance packages. Finance options are only available for UK patients.