OBJECTIVE To observe the effect of preoperative chemoradiotherapy for inflammatory breast cancer.METHODS From December 1996 to December 2000, we received and treated 21 patients with inflammatory breast carcinoma with a combinedmodality treatment. The chemotherapy protocol consisted of cyclophosphamide (CTX), pirarubicin (THP-ADM) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or CTX, 5-Fu and methotrexate (MTX). The same infusion scheme was repeated on day 21. After 3～4 cycles the patients were treated with radiotherapy. When the radiation dose reached 40 Gy, the patients who were unable or unwilling to under go an operation received continued radiotherapy. When the radiation dose to the supra clavicular fossa and internal mammary lymph nodes reached 60 Gy and 50 Gy respectively, the radiotherapy was stopped. Chemotherapy was then continued with the original scheme. Patients who had indications for surgery and were willing to under go an operation received no treatment for 2 weeks, after which a total mastectomy was performed. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy was resumed with the original scheme after the operations. When the radiation dose reached 50 Gy, radiotherapy was stopped.RESULTS All patients were followed-up for more than 5 years with a follow-up rate of 100%. The overall 3 and 5-year survival rates of these patients were 42.9%, and 23.8% respectively. For patients in Stage ⅢB the 3 and 5-year survival rates were 50.0% and 27.8% respectively, and for patients in Stage Ⅳ, the 3 and 5-year survival rates were both 0.0%.There was a significant difference between the 2 stage groups (P＜0.05,X2=11.60). For patients who received an operation, the 3 and 5-year survival rates were 80.0% and 33.3% respectively, For patients who were not treated with an operation, the 3 and 5-year survival rates were both0.0%, There was a significant difference between the operated and nonoperated groups (P＜0.05, X2=11.64).CONCLUSION The prognosis of inflammatory breast carcinoma is poor.Before operation, a combined-modality treatment (first chemotherapy,then local therapy, finally chemotherapy and radiotherapy) is the best treatment method.