Aggressive Form of Breast Cancer Studied
Reported July 7, 2005

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- It's a relatively rare yet aggressive form of breast cancer, and now doctors know more about it. A new study reveals more information on inflammatory breast carcinoma.

IBC is characterized by redness, warmth and swelling, often without a mass. It has not been extensively researched, and estimates of its occurrence range from less than 1 percent to 10 percent of breast cancer cases. Researchers from the National Cancer Institute looked at data from the SEER program to learn more about IBC. (SEER is a database managed by the NCI that collects data from cancer registries across the country.)

Study authors report IBC makes up about 2 percent of all breast cancer cases and the tumors tend to be larger than those in other forms of breast cancer. They say women diagnosed with IBC are three- to seven-years younger than the average age of women with other forms of breast cancer. Patients with IBC also have a poorer chance of survival with a median survival of less than three years compared to six to 10 years for other types of breast cancer. Black patients with IBC had a poorer survival rate then white patients.

Researchers say their study reveals the number of IBC cases is on the rise. In 1988, the rate was 2 cases per 100,000 women, and in 1999 the rate went to 2.5 per 100,000. By comparison, the rate of more common forms of breast cancer decreased during the same time.

While this study creates a report about IBC, study authors say finding a molecular determinant and genetic profile for this disease is still needed.

SOURCE: Journal of National Cancer Institute, 2005;97:966-975