Inflammatory breast cancer: current understanding

Purpose of review Inflammatory breast cancer is a highly aggressive variant of locally advanced breast cancer that carries a significantly worse prognosis. The purpose of this review is to highlight recent advances in the molecular modus operandi of this particular form of breast cancer. Recent findings Studies on tumor cell emboli, E-cadherin, chemokine receptors, steroid hormone receptor, angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis and gene expression all suggest significant differences with noninflammatory breast cancer and are clearly in line with a different pathogenesis of the condition. Summary This comprehensive review will hopefully allow for better treatment modalities with targeted approaches as suggested by the early data on anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment in inflammatory breast cancer.