The current understanding of the molecular determinants of inflammatory breast cancer metastasis

Inflammatory breast cancer is a highly aggressive and metastatic form of locally advanced breast cancer that carries a significantly worse prognosis than non-inflammatory breast cancers. Unfortunately, the molecular basis of this deadly form of breast cancer has been understudied. Over the past 10 years new studies have begun to reveal a unique molecular profile of IBC shedding light on its unique ability to rapidly invade and metastasize via the dermal lymphatic system of the skin overlying the breast. The goal of this review is to introduce IBC to the reader and provide a brief overview of what is known about the metastatic mechanisms of the disease.