Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC)
Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is an uncommon and highly aggressive type of breast cancer distinguished by its rapid onset and distinct presentation. As a prominent provider of drug and therapy development services, our company is fully dedicated to offering comprehensive solutions for the advancement of IBC therapeutics.
Overview of Inflammatory Breast Cancer
Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is an infrequent yet extremely aggressive variant of breast cancer, comprising approximately 1-5% of all breast cancer cases. Unlike other forms of breast cancer, IBC does not typically manifest as a discernible lump or mass. Instead, it manifests as a diffuse and erythematous (red and swollen) breast, often accompanied by warmth, pain, and peau d'orange skin texture resembling the skin of an orange.
Pathological Characteristics of Inflammatory Breast Cancer
One of the key pathological features of IBC is the infiltration of tumor cells into the lymphatic vessels of the skin and breast tissue. This invasive behavior leads to the characteristic symptoms of inflammation and skin changes observed in IBC cases.
Histopathological analysis of IBC samples reveals a high degree of tumor cell proliferation, nuclear pleomorphism, and a prominent lymphocytic infiltrate. The presence of tumor emboli within dermal lymphatic vessels is a hallmark of IBC and distinguishes it from other breast cancer subtypes.
Fig. 1 Therapeutics of Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC). (Alsulaim Lamees, et al., 2021)Targets of Inflammatory Breast Cancer Therapy
Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR)
Overexpression of EGFR is commonly observed in IBC and is associated with aggressive tumor behavior. Targeting EGFR using monoclonal antibodies or tyrosine kinase inhibitors has shown promising results in studies.
Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2)
HER2 overexpression is observed in a subset of IBC cases. Targeting HER2 with monoclonal antibodies, such as trastuzumab, has revolutionized the therapeutics of HER2-positive breast cancer.
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor (VEGFR)
Dysregulation of angiogenesis is a hallmark of IBC. Inhibition of VEGFR signaling using small molecule inhibitors or monoclonal antibodies has shown potential in preclinical models of IBC.
PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway
Activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is frequently observed in IBC. Targeting this pathway using inhibitors has demonstrated efficacy in preclinical studies.
Therapies of Inflammatory Breast Cancer
- HER2 Targeted Therapy
One promising strategy for the therapeutics of IBC is targeted therapy against the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Trastuzumab, a monoclonal antibody, has shown remarkable success in breast cancer therapeutics and has led to investigations of lapatinib, an oral, dual tyrosine kinase inhibitor against EGFR and HER2. - Vasculolymphatic Pathways Targeted Therapy
The vasculolymphatic pathways, including angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, and vasculogenesis, play a crucial role in the progression and metastasis of IBC. Bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), has shown promising results when combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy in IBC cases. - RhoC GTPase and WISP3 Targeted Therapy
Overexpression of RhoC GTPase and loss of WISP3 have been identified as potential targets for therapy development in IBC. RhoC, a member of the Ras superfamily, plays a vital role in signal transduction and cytoskeleton regulation. Studying the role of farnesyl transferase inhibitors in regulating RhoC expression provides a promising approach for targeted therapy.
Our Services
Developing novel therapies and drugs for IBC requires a comprehensive understanding of the disease's biology and molecular targets. Our company is at the forefront of IBC diagnostics and therapy development, offering a range of services to accelerate drug discovery and development.
Therapy Development Platforms
Animal Models of Inflammatory Breast Cancer
Our company offers preclinical in vivo studies using validated IBC animal models to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of potential therapeutics.
| Transgenic Models | |
| To enhance the visualization of lymphatic and endothelial vessels, our company has developed a transgenic nude mice model called ProxTom RFP Nu/Nu mice. These mice express red fluorescent lymphatics, achieved by incorporating a tdTomato fluorophore under the control of the Prox1 promoter, a transcription factor essential for lymphatic vessel formation and maintenance. By using these transgenic mice, researchers can precisely visualize lymphatic vessels and better understand the interaction between tumor cells and the lymphatic system during IBC progression. | |
| Optional Models | ProxTom RFP Nu/Nu mice, Others |
| Xenograft Models | |
| To further facilitate the study of IBC, our company generates various breast cancer cells tagged with GFP or RFP markers. These labeled cells are then subcutaneously implanted into the window chamber of athymic or ProxTom RFP Nu/Nu mice as needed. The fluorescent labeling enables real-time imaging of tumor cell growth, motility, and vasculature within the tumor microenvironment. | |
| Optional Species | Mouse, Rat, Dog, Others |
In addition, we also provide other customized animal models to meet diverse needs. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us for more details and quotation information of related services.
References
- Alsulaim Lamees, and Sajad Ahmad Salati. "Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC): A revisit." Int. J. Surg. Surg. Res 3 (2021): 21-26.
- Robertson, Fredika M., et al. "Inflammatory breast cancer: the disease, the biology, the treatment." CA: a cancer journal for clinicians 60.6 (2010): 351-375.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.