Dr Lynce on the Prognosis of Patients With Inflammatory Breast Cancer

Filipa Lynce, MD senior physician, director, Inflammatory Breast Cancer Program, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; assistant professor, medicine, Harvard Medical School, discusses the current prognosis of patients diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) and highlights the need for more effective treatment options in this disease setting.

Historically, outcomes for patients with IBC are poor compared with those of patients displaying other forms of locally advanced breast cancer, Lynce begins. However, overall improvements in breast cancer management have led to better outcomes for patients with IBC. Despite these advances, IBC remains a particularly difficult-to-treat type of breast cancer due to its aggressive nature and distinct clinical behavior.

Lynce emphasizes the importance of considering the subtype of IBC when evaluating patient prognosis. Not all IBC cases are the same, as a patient’s subtype significantly influences their response to treatment and overall outcomes, Lynce explains. For example, patients with HER2-positive IBC tend to respond well to HER2-targeted therapies, Lynce notes. The development and refinement of these targeted therapies have substantially improved survival rates for patients with this disease subtype.

Conversely, triple-negative IBC (TN-IBC) is highly aggressive and is associated with worse outcomes relative to other IBC subtypes, Lynce says, adding that patient prognosis is often worse than that of triple-negative breast cancer in general, Lynce explains. The aggressive nature of TN-IBC and the limited treatment arsenal for this subtype contribute to poorer outcomes, highlighting a critical area of unmet need.

Lynce underscores the need for ongoing research and the development of new targeted therapies within this space, particularly for challenging subtypes like TN-IBC. Personalized treatment strategies based on the molecular characteristics of these tumors are crucial for improving outcomes.

Overall, the exploration of new therapeutic agents and combination regimens tailored to the specific biology of IBC subtypes may enhance patient prognosis and quality of life, Lynce conclude