Bartonella henselae Infection Detected in Patients with Inflammatory Breast Cancer.


Conclusions: These results suggested that bacteria infections such as the one produced by Bartonella henselae might contribute to the clinical and pathological characteristics of IBC, associated with rapid spread of the breast tumor cells through the lymphatic system. The infection and activation of endothelial lymphatics by Bartonella might contribute to the highly metastatic process observed in IBC patients. An acute inflammatory reaction triggered by the Bartonella infected endothelium may be crucial for initiating the chronic inflammation in IBC patients and the rapid spread of tumor cells.