Mayo Test ID PIK3T PIK3CA Mutation Analysis, Tumor
Test Down Notes
Effective 09/17/2025: This test is temporarily unavailable due to reagent issues. Please send all samples received during this period to the laboratory for stabilization and testing - DO NOT SWTICH TEST CODE OR HOLD. Please send additional questions to tech support. See test notification here
Necessary Information
A pathology report (final or preliminary), at minimum containing the following information, must accompany specimen for testing to be performed:
1. Patient name
2. Block number-must be on all blocks, slides, and paperwork (can be handwritten on the paperwork)
3. Tissue collection date
4. Source of the tissue
Specimen Required
This assay requires at least 20% tumor nuclei.
-Preferred amount of tumor area with sufficient percent tumor nuclei: tissue 108 mm(2)
-Minimum amount of tumor area: tissue 18 mm(2)
-These amounts are cumulative over up to 10 unstained slides and must have adequate percent tumor nuclei
-Tissue fixation: formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE), non-decalcified
Preferred: Submit 2, if available, of the following specimens.
Acceptable: Submit at least one of the following specimens.
Specimen Type: Tissue block
Collection Instructions: Submit a formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue block with acceptable amount of tumor tissue.
Specimen Type: Tissue slide
Slides: 1 Hematoxylin and eosin-stained and 10 unstained
Collection Instructions:
Submit the followings slides:
1 Slide stained with hematoxylin and eosin
AND
10 Unstained, nonbaked slides with 5-micron thick sections of the tumor tissue.
Note: The total amount of required tumor nuclei can be obtained by scraping up to 10 slides from the same block.
Additional Information: Unused unstained slides will not be returned.
Useful For
Identification of hormone receptor positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HR+/HER2-) advanced breast cancer tumors that may be eligible for treatment with targeted kinase inhibitor therapy (eg, alpelisib).
Testing Algorithm
When this test is ordered, slide review will always be performed at an additional charge.
Method Name
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
Reporting Name
PIK3CA Mutation Analysis, TumorSpecimen Type
VariesSpecimen Minimum Volume
See Specimen Required
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type | Temperature | Time |
---|---|---|
Varies | Ambient (preferred) | |
Refrigerated |
Reject Due To
All specimens will be evaluated at Mayo Clinic Laboratories for test suitability.Clinical Information
More than 70% of breast cancers are hormone receptor (HR) positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) negative (HR+/HER2-). Approximately 40% of patients with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer have activating mutations in the gene PIK3CA, inducing hyperactivation of the alpha isoform (p110alpha) of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, a key upstream component of the PI3K pathway. Mutations in PIK3CA are associated with tumor growth, resistance to endocrine therapy, and poor overall prognosis.
Patients with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer identified to have a PIK3CA mutation may be eligible for treatment with targeted kinase inhibitor therapy (eg, alpelisib).
This test uses DNA extracted from tumors to evaluate for the presence of 10 clinically actionable PIK3CA mutations:
E542K (c.1624G>A)
E542K (c.1633G>A)
E545D (c.1635G>T)
E545G (c.1634A>G)
E545A (c.1634A>C)
H1047Y (c.3139C>T)
C420R (c.1285C>T)
Q546E (c.1636C>G)
H1047L (c.3140A>T)
H1047R (c.3140A>G)
Reference Values
An interpretive report will be provided
Interpretation
The interpretation of molecular biomarker results includes an overview of the results and the associated diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic implications.
Cautions
A negative (wildtype) result does not rule out the presence of a mutation that may be present but below the limits of detection of this assay. It also does not rule out the presence of other types of alterations in the PIK3CA gene outside those that the assay was designed to detect.
This test is not designed to differentiate between somatic and germline alterations. Additional testing may be necessary to clarify the significance of results if there is a potential hereditary risk.
Not all tumors that have PIK3CA mutations will respond to targeted therapies.
Rare genetic alterations (ie, polymorphisms) may be present that could lead to false-negative or false-positive results.
Test results should be interpreted in context of clinical findings, tumor sampling, and other laboratory data. If results obtained do not match other clinical or laboratory findings, contact the laboratory for possible interpretation. Misinterpretation of results may occur if the information provided is inaccurate or incomplete.
Clinical Reference
1. Bachman K, Argani P, Samuels Y, et al. The PIK3CA gene is mutated with high frequency in human breast cancers. Cancer Biol Ther. 2004;3(8):772-775
2. Andre F, Ciruelos EM, Rubovszky G, et al. Alpelisib for PIK3CA-mutated, hormone receptor-positive advanced breast cancer. N Engl J Med. 2019;380(20):1929-1940
3. Andre F, Ciruelos EM, Juric D, et al. Alpelisib plus fulvestrant for PIK3CA-mutated, hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2-negative advanced breast cancer: final overall survival results from SOLAR-1. Ann Oncol. 2021;32(2):208-217
Method Description
Microscopic examination is performed by a pathologist to identify areas of tumor for enrichment by macrodissection. Testing is performed on invasive tissue only. Other tissue components, such as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), are excluded.
A polymerase-chain reaction (PCR)-based assay employing real-time PCR and allele-specific PCR technologies is used to test for 10 mutations within PIK3CA (C420R, E542K, E545A, E545D, E545G, E545K, Q546E, H1047L, H1047R, and H1047Y).(Package insert: therascreen PIK3CA RGQ PCR Kit. Qiagen; 05/2019)
Day(s) Performed
Monday through Friday
Report Available
8 to 12 daysSpecimen Retention Time
Tissue blocks: Unused portions of blocks will be returned; Tissue slides: Unused slides are stored for at least 5 years; Extracted DNA: 3 monthsPerforming Laboratory

Test Classification
This test has been modified from the manufacturer's instructions. Its performance characteristics were determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. This test has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.CPT Code Information
81309
LOINC Code Information
Test ID | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
---|---|---|
PIK3T | PIK3CA Mutation Analysis, Tumor | 60034-6 |
Result ID | Test Result Name | Result LOINC Value |
---|---|---|
616654 | Result Summary | 50397-9 |
616655 | Result | 82939-0 |
616656 | Interpretation | 69047-9 |
616657 | Additional Information | 48767-8 |
616658 | Specimen | 31208-2 |
616659 | Source | 31208-2 |
616660 | Tissue ID | 80398-1 |
616661 | Released By | 18771-6 |
Additional Tests
Test ID | Reporting Name | Available Separately | Always Performed |
---|---|---|---|
SLIRV | Slide Review in MG | No, (Bill Only) | Yes |