To evaluate survival outcomes and trends in trimodal therapy (TMT) use for patients with inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) compared to non-IBC over a specified time frame.
Key Findings:
Patients with IBC have worse overall survival and breast cancer-specific survival compared to non-IBC stage III disease, highlighting the need for improved treatment adherence.
Despite improved outcomes with TMT, its use declined to less than 25% by 2020, raising concerns about treatment adequacy.
Only 25.1% of IBC patients received guideline-concordant care, with significant deviations in surgical management that could impact survival.
Interpretation:
The persistent survival disparity indicates that IBC requires aggressive multimodal therapy, including chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation, and deviations from established treatment guidelines are concerning.
Limitations:
The decline in TMT use may be influenced by multiple factors, including a trend towards de-escalation of treatment, which could negatively impact survival outcomes.
Increased use of sentinel lymph node biopsy without evidence for its safety in IBC management raises concerns about treatment adequacy.
Conclusion:
Adherence to guideline-concordant care is crucial for improving survival outcomes in IBC, and innovative approaches like neoadjuvant radiotherapy, along with other emerging therapies, should be explored.
