Resumo:
Inflammatory mammary carcinoma (IMC) is a clinic-pathological presentation of breast cancer
characterized by rapid progression, aggressiveness, and poor prognosis, affecting both women
and female dogs. Despite significant advances in understanding the pathogenesis and
management of IMC in humans, and the recognition of female dogs as a model for comparative
and translational studies in mammary oncology, research in veterinary medicine remains
limited. The objective of this study was to conduct a comprehensive systematic review of IMC
in women and female dogs, employing a rigorous methodology based on the PRISMA protocol,
aiming to compare clinicopathological characteristics, prognostic factors, and therapeutic
approaches, as well as identify critical gaps in current knowledge. The Scopus, Web of Science,
Embase, and PubMed databases were used, identifying 1,299 records, of which 53 studies met
the inclusion criteria. Analyses included keyword maps, concepts, and citations, using
VOSviewer software to visualize the interrelationships between the searched terms. Results
showed that most studies on IMC in female dogs were retrospective and observational, with
little experimental evidence, likely due to the aggressive nature of the disease. Comparing
human and veterinary studies, a predominance of terms related to human IMC was observed,
such as "inflammatory breast cancer" and "survival". In contrast, specific terms from canine
oncology, such as "canine mammary tumors", appeared isolated, highlighting the lack of
interconnection between the two areas. The most common clinical manifestations in women
and female dogs included edema, erythema, and the "peau d'orange" appearance. However,
studies in veterinary medicine indicated a greater diversity of histological types associated with
IMC, suggesting additional complexity in the pathogenesis of the disease in female dogs.
Differences in molecular markers were identified, with HER-2, ER, and PR being widely used
in humans but still little explored in female dogs. The review highlighted the scarcity of
comparative studies of IMC in humans and dogs. This study also examined treatment options
for IMC in women and dogs. In humans, multimodal therapy has been used in most studies in
women. In dogs, the therapeutic options evaluated were limited, usually involving palliative
care and, in some situations, chemotherapy. The relevance of canine models for translational
cancer research has grown, but there is still a significant gap to be filled, especially in the
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validation of biomarkers and specific therapies. Advances in veterinary oncology research,
especially in prospective studies and controlled clinical trials, are necessary to elucidate shared
molecular mechanisms and identify therapeutic targets. This comparative approach has the
potential to revolutionize the management of IMC in both species, significantly improving the
prognosis and quality of life of affected patients.
