Nomogram for predicting the overall survival of patients with inflammatory breast cancer: A SEER-based study

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare malignancy that is a unique biologic subtype of breast cancer. A nomogram to predict the overall survival (OS) of IBC patients is lacking. The aim of the study was to construct and validate a nomogram to predict the OS of IBC patients based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program.

Patients diagnosed with IBC between 2010 and 2016 were selected from the SEER database. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to identify independent prognostic factors. A nomogram was constructed to predict the 1-, 3- and 5-year OS of these patients. The nomogram was internally and externally validated by Harrell's C-indexes and calibration plots.

Patients were randomly divided into a training set (n = 2464) and a validation set (n = 1052). The training set was used to establish a nomogram. Multivariate analysis identified that race, age at diagnosis, breast cancer subtype, grade, N stage, M stage, radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery were significant prognostic factors for the OS. The internally and externally validated Harrell's C-indexes were 0.763 and 0.786, respectively. The calibration plots for predictions of the 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS were in excellent agreement.

A nomogram was constructed to predict the OS for IBC patients based on the SEER database and to provide accurate and individualised survival predictions.