Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation

Abstract: “Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family members in breast cancer.”

Although VEGF-A and VEGF-B expressions were detected in both node-positive and node-negative breast tumors, VEGF-C expression was detected only in node-positive tumors. VEGF-D expression was detected only in an inflammatory breast cancer and a tumor which developed an inflammatory skin metastasis. These findings suggest a possible relationship between the expression level of VEGF-C and/or VEGF-D and the development of lymphatic tumor spread.

See also the work of Dr. Karl Alitalo regarding VEGF family members in Tumor Angiogenesis, Lymphangiogenesis and Metastasis.

All of the following research has been accomplished by Dr. Sofia Merajver and Dr. Kenneth van Golen and others in Dr. Merajver’s lab at The University of Michigan

Abstract: “A novel putative low-affinity insulin-like growth factor-binding protein, LIBC (lost in inflammatory breast cancer), and RhoC GTPase correlate with the inflammatory breast cancer phenotype”

Inflammatory breast cancer is a rapidly growing, distinct form of locally advanced breast cancer that carries a guarded prognosis. To identify the genes that contribute to this aggressive phenotype, we compared under- and overexpressed sequences in an inflammatory breast tumor cell line with those of actively replicating normal human mammary epithelial cell lines using differential display.

Abstract: “RhoC GTPase, a novel transforming oncogene for human mammary epithelial cells that partially recapitulates the inflammatory breast cancer phenotype”

Taken together, these data indicate that RhoC GTPase is a transforming oncogene in human mammary epithelial cells and can lead to a highly invasive phenotype, akin to that seen in IBC.

Abstract: “Molecular biology of breast cancer metastasis: Inflammatory breast cancer: clinical syndrome and molecular determinants”

Nearly all women have lymph node involvement at the time of diagnosis, and approximately 36% have gross distant metastases. Despite recent advances in multimodality treatments, the prognosis of patients with IBC is poor, with a median disease-free survival of less than 2.5 years. Recent work on the genetic determinants that underlie the IBC phenotype has led to the identification of genes that are involved in the development and progression of this disease.

Abstract: “Persistent e-cadherin expression in inflammatory breast cancer”

In our study, we demonstrate that circulating IBC tumor cells strongly express E-cadherin, thereby providing an important exception to the positive association between E-cadherin loss and poor prognosis in breast cancer.

Further molecular research of IBC may be found here and here.