Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Program
Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare form of breast cancer which accounts for only 2% to 6% of all cases of breast cancers, but it is a highly aggressive disease with a poor prognosis (5 year survival rate of 40%). Inflammatory breast cancer is characterized by rapid disease progression and early distant metastatic disease progression. Patients are frequently misdiagnosed and life saving treatment is delayed. The delay in diagnosis and treatment can directly relate to significant progression of disease and decreased survival.
All aspects of treating inflammatory breast cancer – including staging, diagnosis, and therapy – are vastly different than other breast cancers. For women with inflammatory breast cancer, finding a medical team experienced in treating the rare disease is paramount. In 2006, MD Anderson Cancer Center unveiled the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Program and Clinic. Just one year later, the clinic and research program were renamed for Morgan Welch, a young woman who died from IBC at the age of 24. Read more about the history of the program.
Although inflammatory breast cancer is the most aggressive form of breast cancer and has distinctive biological features, current treatment is still based on conventional regimens of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy developed for other types of breast cancer. There has been little change in overall survival rates in the last 30 years and there are not therapeutic regimens developed specifically for inflammatory breast cancer.
Our comprehensive multi-disciplinary team is collectively focused on developing methods for identification of specific genomic and proteomic signatures of inflammatory breast cancer. These signatures will guide us in developing tools for diagnosis, identifying therapeutic approaches specifically for treatment of inflammatory breast cancer, and enhancing imaging approaches to assist in detecting the disease and evaluating the effectiveness of treatment for inflammatory breast cancer patients. The ultimate goal is to improve survival of inflammatory breast cancer patients.
From Terry Arnold: “I wanted to share this report I received from MD Anderson’s Morgan Welch Clinic. I am so honored that our foundation is working so closely with such a stellar group of people at a world respected institution.”
On behalf of the Morgan Welch Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Program and Clinic, I would like to share with you the FY12 Annual Report. It is our intent to remain transparent and accountable to all stakeholders of the Program. The FY12 Annual Report is a comprehensive review of our activities, both clinical and research, as well as outreach. It is also an occasion for us to express appreciation to the many individuals and organizations that contribute to our growth and success.
We are proud of our multi-disciplinary team, the goals we have set forth and our accomplishments thus far. We also recognize that we have much work ahead of us if we are to eliminate the suffering caused by IBC. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the making of this report and to our Program. You are truly appreciated.
Yours truly,
Danielle
Danielle M. Walsh, MBA
Program Manager
Section, Translational Breast Cancer Research
and The Morgan Welch Inflammatory Breast Cancer
Research Program and Clinic
www.mdanderson.org/IBCProgram
www.twitter.com/InflammatoryBCa
www.facebook.com/InflammatoryBreastCancer
