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Published on: January 18, 2017
Targeted therapy in inflammatory breast cancer
Hideko Yamauchi1, Naoto T Ueno
1Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, St Luke's International Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Cancer
|May 27, 2010
Summary
Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) has a poor prognosis despite current treatments. Molecular targeted therapies, particularly those targeting human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), show promise for improving outcomes in IBC.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) presents a significant clinical challenge with a generally poor prognosis, even with multimodality treatment.
- Recent advancements in molecular targeted therapies offer potential new avenues for treating IBC.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current literature on molecular targets and targeted therapies for inflammatory breast cancer.
- To identify promising therapeutic targets and strategies for improving IBC patient outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies investigating molecular targets and targeted therapies in IBC.
- Analysis of clinical trial data for HER-2 targeted agents (trastuzumab, lapatinib).
- Examination of other potential molecular targets including WNT1, Ras homolog gene family member C, EGFR, p27(kip1), and E-cadherin.
Main Results:
- Trastuzumab and lapatinib show efficacy in HER-2-positive breast cancers, suggesting potential for IBC.
- Molecular targets involved in vasculolymphatic processes (angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, vasculogenesis) appear more relevant in IBC than non-IBC.
- Paradoxical overexpression of E-cadherin in IBC, despite its association with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, warrants further investigation.
Conclusions:
- Targeted therapies, especially those against HER-2 and potentially EGFR, represent a promising direction for IBC treatment.
- Understanding the unique molecular mechanisms driving IBC aggressiveness, such as E-cadherin overexpression, is crucial for developing innovative therapies.
- Further research into EGFR's role may lead to novel targeted therapeutic strategies for inflammatory breast cancer.
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