Features of VEGF and IL-6 expression in patients with inflammatory breast cancer considering molecular-biological characteristics.

Expression of pro-malignant factors (VEGF) and cytokines like inflammatory components support breast cancer development. We examined 46 patients with stage IIIB inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) and 24 with stage IIA-IIIB breast cancer (BC) without secondary edema. Hormone receptors, Her-2/neu, Ki-67 index, VEGF, and IL-6, were determined for all patients before and after neoadjuvant treatment.