Inflammatory breast cancer in Tunisia from 2005 to 2010: epidemiologic and anatomoclinical transitions from published data.
OBJECTIVE
To report epidemiologic and anatomoclinical transitions of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) in Tunisia.


METHODS
Data including clinico-pathological data for208 cases of T4d or PEV 3 non-metastatic breast cancer diagnosed between 2005 and 2010 were collected from patient records. Chi2 and Z tests were used to compare variables with two Tunisian historical series and a series about Arab-American patients.


RESULTS
Thirty three percent of our patients had their first child before 23 years of age and 56% had their menarche before 12 years, 75% never receiving oral contraception. Obesity was observed in 42% of women and IBC occurred during pregnancy in 13% of cases. Tumor grade was II-III in 90% of cases, HR was negative in 52%, HER2 was over expressed in 31% and invasion of more than 3 axillary nodes occurred in 18% of patients. We observed a pCR rate of 19% after neoadjuvant treatment (anthracyline-taxane used in 79%, trastuzumab in 27% ). Compared to historical Tunisian series (since 1996), IBC epidemiology remained stable in terms of median age, menopausal status and obesity. However we observed a significant decrease in median clinical tumor size and number of positive axillary lymph nodes. Comparison to IBC in Arab-Americans showed a significant difference in terms of median age, menopausal status, positivity of hormonal receptors and educational level.


CONCLUSIONS
Our assessment of epidemiologic transition showed a reduction of clinco-pathological stage of IBC, keeping the same characteristics as compared to Tunisian historical series over a period of 14 years. Features seem to be different in Arab-American patients, probably related to migration, "occidentalization" of life style and improvement in socio-economic level.
Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital A Mami, Ariana, Tunis, Tunisia E-mail : nesrinemejriturki@yahoo.fr.
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Mejri
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Boussen
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Labidi
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Bouzaiene
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Afrit
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Benna
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Rahal
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018943:Anthracyclines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001952:Bridged-Ring Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D058922:Inflammatory Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013997:Time Factors; D000068878:Trastuzumab / Q000008:administration & dosage
D018943:Anthracyclines; D001952:Bridged-Ring Compounds; D043823:Taxoids; C080625:taxane; D000068878:Trastuzumab