Inflammatory breast cancer: an overview

Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2015 Feb;93(2):116-26. doi: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2014.09.003. Epub 2014 Oct 16.

Abstract

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is the most aggressive entity of breast cancer. Management involves coordination of multidisciplinary management and usually includes neoadjuvant chemotherapy, ablative surgery if a tumor-free resection margin is expected and locoregional radiotherapy. This multimodal therapeutic approach has significantly improved patient survival. However, the median overall survival among women with IBC is still poor. By elucidating the biologic characteristics of IBC, new treatment options may become available. We performed a comprehensive review of the English-language literature on IBC through computerized literature searches. The objective of the current review is to present an overview of the literature related to the biology, imaging and multidisciplinary treatment of inflammatory breast cancer.

Keywords: Inflammatory breast cancer; Molecular characteristics; Surgery; Treatment.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / metabolism
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • ErbB Receptors / genetics
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism
  • Female
  • Gamma Rays / therapeutic use*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Genes, Tumor Suppressor
  • Humans
  • Inflammatory Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Inflammatory Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Inflammatory Breast Neoplasms / surgery
  • Inflammatory Breast Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Mastectomy / methods
  • Neoadjuvant Therapy / methods
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inducing Agents
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • ErbB Receptors