Biological subtype, treatment response and outcomes in inflammatory breast cancer using data from the National Cancer Database

This study examines whether biological subtype in patients diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) influences their outcome using a national cancer database. Amongst 4068 patients diagnosed with IBC, 38.7% were ER+HER2-, 32.5% HER2+, and 28.8% were ER-HER2-. 84% were clinically node positive at presentation. Total pCR rates were 6.2% (ER+HER2-), 38.8% (HER2+), and 19.1% (ER-/HER2-). The 5 year overall survival was rates were 64.9% (ER+HER2-), 74% (HER2+), and 44% (ER-/HER2-). Multivariate analysis showed that ER-/HER2- subtype and the absence of pCR predicted for worse survival. The study findings support the concept that IBC is not a distinct biological entity with uniformly poor outcomes and highlights the recent improved outcomes in HER2+ IBC. However, future studies are needed to improve outcome for patients with ER-/HER2- IBC. 

Classifications: Breast Cancer Treatment

Keywords: Inflammatory Breast Cancer