Primary tumor resection as a component of multimodality treatment may improve local control and survival in patients with stage IV inflammatory breast cancer

BACKGROUND To the authors' knowledge, the benefit of primary tumor resection among patients with metastatic inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is unknown. METHODS The authors reviewed 172 cases of metastatic IBC. All patients received chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy and/or surgery. Patients were classified as responders or nonresponders to chemotherapy. The 5-year overall survival (OS) and distant progression-free survival (DPFS) and local control at the time of last follow-up were evaluated. RESULTS A total of 79 patients (46%) underwent surgery. OS and DPFS were better among patients treated with surgery versus no surgery (47% vs 10%, respectively [P < .0001] and 30% vs 3%, respectively [P < .0001]). Surgery plus radiotherapy was associated with better survival compared with treatment with surgery or radiotherapy alone (OS rate: 50% vs 25% vs 14%, respectively; DPFS rate: 32% vs 18% vs 15%, respectively [P < .0001 for both]). Surgery was associated with better survival for both responders (OS rate for surgery vs no surgery: 49% vs 23% [P <.0001] and DPFS rate for surgery vs no surgery: 31% vs 8% [P < .0001]) and nonresponders (OS rate for surgery vs no surgery: 40% vs 6% [P < .0001] and DPFS rate for surgery vs no surgery: 30% vs 0% [P < .0001]). On multivariate analysis, treatment with surgery plus radiotherapy and response to chemotherapy were found to be significant predictors of better OS and DPFS. Local control at the time of last follow-up was 4-fold more likely in patients who underwent surgery with or without radiotherapy compared with patients who received chemotherapy alone (81% vs 18%; P < .0001). Surgery and response to chemotherapy independently predicted local control on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS The results of the current study demonstrate that for select patients with metastatic IBC, multimodality treatment including primary tumor resection may result in better local control and survival. However, a randomized trial is needed to validate these findings. Cancer 2014;120:1319-1328.