Using patient breast tumor specimens, breast cancer cell lines, and a patient-derived xenograft model of IBC, we demonstrate that IBC strongly expresses IL8 and growth-regulated oncogene (GRO) chemokines that activate STAT3, which promotes development of high levels of CSC-like cells and a mesenchymal phenotype.
Syndecan-1 acts as a novel tissue biomarker and a modulator of CSC phenotype of triple negative IBC via the IL-6/STAT3, Notch and EGFR signaling pathways, thus emerging as a promising therapeutic target for IBC.