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Strahlentherapie Und Onkologie : Organ... Oct 2023Radiation dermatitis (RD) represents one of the most frequent side effects in radiotherapy (RT). Despite technical progress, mild and moderate RD still affects major...
Risk assessment, surveillance, and nonpharmaceutical prevention of acute radiation dermatitis: results of a multicentric survey among the German-speaking radiation oncology community.
PURPOSE
Radiation dermatitis (RD) represents one of the most frequent side effects in radiotherapy (RT). Despite technical progress, mild and moderate RD still affects major subsets of patients and identification and management of patients with a high risk of severe RD is essential. We sought to characterize surveillance and nonpharmaceutical preventive management of RD in German-speaking hospitals and private centers.
METHODS
We conducted a survey on RD among German-speaking radiation oncologists inquiring for their evaluation of risk factors, assessment methods, and nonpharmaceutical preventive management of RD.
RESULTS
A total of 244 health professionals from public and private institutions in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland participated in the survey. RT-dependent factors were deemed most relevant for RD onset followed by lifestyle factors, emphasizing the impact of treatment conceptualization and patient education. While a broad majority of 92.8% assess RD at least once during RT, 59.0% of participants report RD at least partially arbitrarily and 17.4% stated to classify RD severity solely arbitrarily. 83.7% of all participants were unaware of patient-reported outcomes (PROs). Consensus exists on some lifestyle recommendations like avoidance of sun exposure (98.7%), hot baths (95.1%), and mechanical irritation (91.8%) under RT, while deodorant use (63.4% not at all, 22.1% with restrictions) or application of skin lotion (15.1% disapproval) remain controversial and are not recommended by guidelines or evidence-based practices.
CONCLUSION
Identification of patients at an increased risk of RD and subsequent implementation of adequate preventive measures remain relevant and challenging aspects of clinical routines. Consensus exists on several risk factors and nonpharmaceutical prevention recommendations, while RT-dependent risk factors, e.g., the fractionation scheme, or hygienic measures like deodorant use remain controversial. Surveillance is widely lacking methodology and objectivity. Intensifying outreach in the radiation oncology community is needed to improve practice patterns.
Topics: Humans; Radiation Oncology; Deodorants; Radiodermatitis; Dose Fractionation, Radiation; Risk Assessment
PubMed: 37099166
DOI: 10.1007/s00066-023-02074-w -
BMC Cancer Nov 2022Our previous study reported that recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF)-triggered EGFR internalization promoted radioresistance. Here, we aimed to evaluate...
BACKGROUND
Our previous study reported that recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF)-triggered EGFR internalization promoted radioresistance. Here, we aimed to evaluate the effect of rhEGF on the skin protection of rectal and anal cancer patients receiving radiotherapy.
METHODS
One hundred and ninety-three rectal and anal cancer patients who received radiotherapy were prospectively enrolled from January 2019 to December 2020. To perform self-controlled study, the left and right pelvic skin area (separated by midline) were randomly assigned to the rhEGF and control side. The association between radiation dermatitis and factors including rhEGF, the dose of radiotherapy and tumor distance from anal edge were analyzed.
RESULTS
Among 193 enrolled patients, 41 patients (21.2%) did not develop radiation dermatitis, and 152 patients (78.8%) suffered radiation dermatitis on at least one side of pelvic skin at the end of radiotherapy. For the effect on radiation dermatitis grade, rhEGF had improved effect on 6 (4.0%) patients, detrimental effect on 2 (1.3%) patients, and no effect on 144 (94.7%) patients. Whereas for the effect on radiation dermatitis area, rhEGF showed improved effect on the radiation dermatitis area of 46 (30.2%) patients, detrimental effect on 15 (9.9%) patients, and no effect on 91 (59.9%) patients. The radiation dermatitis area of rhEGF side was significantly smaller than that of control side (P = 0.0007).
CONCLUSIONS
rhEGF is a skin protective reagent for rectal and anal cancer patients receiving radiotherapy.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
Chinese Clinical Trial Registry identifier: ChiCTR1900020842; Date of registration: 20/01/2019.
Topics: Humans; Anus Neoplasms; Epidermal Growth Factor; Radiodermatitis; Research Design
PubMed: 36335306
DOI: 10.1186/s12885-022-10226-x -
The Breast Journal Jul 2020
Topics: Breast; Breast Neoplasms; Female; Humans; Quinolones; Radiodermatitis
PubMed: 31999006
DOI: 10.1111/tbj.13756 -
Supportive Care in Cancer : Official... Feb 2022The study aims to assess the feasibility, safety, and tolerability of CareMin650, a new photobiomodulation device, in patients treated by radiotherapy (RT) and to...
PURPOSE
The study aims to assess the feasibility, safety, and tolerability of CareMin650, a new photobiomodulation device, in patients treated by radiotherapy (RT) and to collect preliminary data on efficacy for prevention and treatment of oral mucositis (OM) and radiation dermatitis (RD).
METHODS
Safe PBM is a French, multicentric, prospective, non-comparative study which include patients with head and neck cancer (H&NC, cohort A) or breast cancer (BC, cohort B) treated in prophylactic (cohorts A1 and B1) or curative setting (cohort A2 and B2). Prophylactic treatment was administered from D1 to end of RT, at a dose of 3 J/cm. Curative treatment started when a grade 1 to grade 3 lesion had occurred and was pursued until end of RT. Primary endpoint was incidence of device-related adverse events (AEs). OM and RD lesions were graded according to CTCAE V3.
RESULTS
Overall, 72 patients were included (22, 9, 23, and 18 in cohorts A1, A2, B1, and B2, respectively). No device-related AE was reported after 1312 CareMin650 sessions. In cohorts A1 and B1, median time to first OM or RD lesion was 20 days. One BC patient developed G3 RD after completion of RT and discontinuation of CareMin650. Four H&NC patients developed G3 OM. In cohorts A2 and B2, lesions improved or stabilized in 71% of patients. Rates of satisfaction were high among patients and users.
CONCLUSION
CareMin650 is feasible, safe, and well tolerated for preventive or curative treatment of OM and RD in cancer patients treated with RT. Preliminary efficacy results are promising.
Topics: Head and Neck Neoplasms; Humans; Low-Level Light Therapy; Prospective Studies; Radiodermatitis; Stomatitis
PubMed: 34537889
DOI: 10.1007/s00520-021-06574-2 -
Strahlentherapie Und Onkologie : Organ... Jul 2023We present a case of mild radiation recall dermatitis triggered by cisplatin chemotherapy given simultaneously to re-irradiation. The dermatitis area correlated to skin...
We present a case of mild radiation recall dermatitis triggered by cisplatin chemotherapy given simultaneously to re-irradiation. The dermatitis area correlated to skin exposure of the previous radiation therapy, characterizing the reaction clearly as a recall. Cisplatin has not yet been recognized as a potential trigger for recall reactions. Although it was part of several reported multidrug trigger combinations, all review works referred to cisplatin as not suspicious, suggesting the combination partner as the effector. We performed a focused systematic literature review aiming to re-evaluate the real role of cisplatin as a (co-)triggering factor. In total, 30 reported cases were found, 90% triggered by multidrug combinations. The latter tended to cause more severe symptoms. Besides findings supporting the 20 Gy-threshold theory, no correlation between radiation dose and severity or prevalence was found. Recognition of cisplatin as a trigger of the recall phenomenon and its supportive management may prevent unnecessary cessation of systemic chemotherapy. Systematic reporting of recall events as a secondary endpoint of prospective clinical trials applying radiation therapy could support understanding the recall phenomenon.
Topics: Humans; Cisplatin; Prospective Studies; Radiodermatitis
PubMed: 36920507
DOI: 10.1007/s00066-023-02059-9 -
Journal of Thoracic Oncology : Official... Oct 2020
Topics: Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Pneumonia; Radiation Pneumonitis; Radiodermatitis
PubMed: 32981602
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2020.05.014 -
Scientific Reports Sep 2023Head and neck cancer (HNC) was the seventh most common cancer in the world in 2018. Treatment of a patient may include surgery, radiotherapy (RT), chemotherapy, targeted...
Head and neck cancer (HNC) was the seventh most common cancer in the world in 2018. Treatment of a patient may include surgery, radiotherapy (RT), chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or a combination of these methods. Ionizing radiation used during RT covers relatively large volumes of healthy tissue surrounding the tumor. The acute form of radiation-induced dermatitis (ARD) are skin lesions that appear usually within 90 days of the start of RT. This is a prospective study which compares 2244 dermoscopy images and 374 clinical photographs of irradiated skin and healthy skin of 26 patients at on average 15 time points. Dermoscopy pictures were evaluated independently by 2 blinded physicians. Vessels in reticular distribution, white, yellow or brown scale in a patchy distribution, perifollicular pigmentation and follicular plugs arranged in rosettes were most often observed. For these dermoscopic features, agreement with macroscopic features was observed. Two independent predictors of severe acute toxicity were identified: gender and concurrent chemotherapy. Knowledge of dermoscopic features could help in the early assessment of acute toxicity and the immediate implementation of appropriate therapeutic strategies. This may increase the tolerance of RT in these groups of patients.
Topics: Humans; Radiodermatitis; Dermoscopy; Prospective Studies; Radiation Oncology; Head and Neck Neoplasms
PubMed: 37735505
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-42507-1 -
Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology Jul 2020Radiation-induced dermatitis is a common occurrence in cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy (RT) and is caused when ionizing radiation (IR) induces DNA strand...
Radiation-induced dermatitis is a common occurrence in cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy (RT) and is caused when ionizing radiation (IR) induces DNA strand breaks in skin cells. The wide use of RT in cancer treatments makes it important to minimize RT-induced toxicities including radiodermatitis. This study sought to determine if the circadian clock plays a protective role in minimizing radiodermatitis. We treated mice in control (Day Shift), environmentally-disrupted (Rotating Shift) and genetically-disrupted (Per 1/2) circadian conditions with 6 Gy of IR to the whole body. There was a significantly increased number of radiodermatitis spots on mice with circadian clock disruption compared to control mice. Additionally, circadian clock disrupted mice exhibited reduced protein levels of Bmal1, a phenomenon that sensitized circadian synchronized keratinocytes to IR-induced DNA damage. Furthermore, the skin phenotype results corresponded with significantly reduced body weights and increased genomic DNA damage in blood cells of mice with clock disruption compared to control mice. These findings suggest that the circadian clock plays a protective role in IR-induced DNA damage and skin toxicity, possibly through BMAL1-dependent mechanisms, and potentially impacts RT-associated radiodermatitis in cancer patients.
Topics: ARNTL Transcription Factors; Animals; Circadian Clocks; Circadian Rhythm; DNA Damage; Female; Keratinocytes; Mice; Mice, Hairless; Neoplasms; Radiodermatitis
PubMed: 32422325
DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2020.115040 -
International Journal of Radiation... Nov 2021Radiation dermatitis is one of the most common acute toxicities induced by chemoradiation therapy (CRT) for head and neck cancer (HNC). The benefit of topical steroids... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
PURPOSE
Radiation dermatitis is one of the most common acute toxicities induced by chemoradiation therapy (CRT) for head and neck cancer (HNC). The benefit of topical steroids in the management of radiation dermatitis is still unclear. This phase 3, multi-institutional, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of topical steroids for radiation dermatitis in patients with locally advanced HNC receiving CRT.
METHODS AND MATERIALS
Eligible patients were scheduled to receive bilateral neck irradiation (≥66 Gy) with concurrent cisplatin (≥200 mg/m) as definitive or postoperative CRT. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either topical steroid or placebo when grade 1radiation dermatitis was observed or the total radiation dose reached 30 Gy. Basic skin care including gentle washing and moistening in the head and neck region was performed in both groups. The primary endpoint was the frequency of grade ≥2 radiation dermatitis, in accordance with the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 4.0. Grading of radiation dermatitis was performed by independent central review using photographs taken weekly.
RESULTS
A total of 211 patients were enrolled (intention to treat: steroid 101 and placebo 102). The frequency of grade ≥2 radiation dermatitis was not significantly reduced with the steroid (73.3%; 95% confidence interval, 64.6%-81.9%) compared with the placebo (80.4%; 95% confidence interval, 72.7%-88.1%; P = .23), whereas the steroid significantly reduced the frequency of grade ≥3 radiation dermatitis (13.9% vs 25.5%; P = .034). No significant differences in adverse events, including local infection or compliance with CRT, were observed between the groups.
CONCLUSIONS
Topical steroid may reduce the severity of radiation dermatitis in patients with HNC and thus may become an important therapeutic tool in the management of radiation dermatitis.
Topics: Chemoradiotherapy; Cisplatin; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Humans; Radiodermatitis; Steroids
PubMed: 34102298
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2021.05.133 -
In Vivo (Athens, Greece) 2023Several reports have evaluated the efficacy and safety of concurrent radiotherapy with cetuximab (BRT) in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Combination...
BACKGROUND/AIM
Several reports have evaluated the efficacy and safety of concurrent radiotherapy with cetuximab (BRT) in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Combination therapy with cetuximab can be a treatment option for NPC. Although clinical data regarding the efficacy and safety of BRT without induction chemotherapy (ICT) or adjuvant chemotherapy is essential for the development of new therapeutic strategies, such data are rarely reported.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
We retrospectively investigated a series of patients with NPC treated in our institution to evaluate the efficacy and safety of BRT. Eleven patients with newly diagnosed NPC were identified from an inpatient database from July 2015 to April 2018. Seven patients who received BRT were reviewed.
RESULTS
All patients completed BRT without cessation of treatment. Six (85.7%) patients achieved a complete response and one (14.3%) achieved stable disease. The response rate was 85.7%. All patients with ≤T3 disease achieved a complete response. Both patients with T3 disease developed local recurrence, and one of the four patients with T1-2 disease developed distant metastases. The 1- and 3-year overall survival rates were 85.7% and 47.6%, respectively. The most common adverse events (AEs) were pharyngeal mucositis (100%), radiation dermatitis (100%), anorexia (28.6%), weight loss (28.6%), acneiform rash (28.6%), and dry mouth (28.6%). Grade 3 AEs were pharyngeal mucositis (42.9%), radiation dermatitis (28.6%), and anorexia (14.3%). No grade 4/5 AEs were observed.
CONCLUSION
BRT for NPC was tolerable, but our findings suggest that BRT without induction chemotherapy or adjuvant chemotherapy is insufficient at least for ≥T3 disease.
Topics: Humans; Cetuximab; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; Mucositis; Retrospective Studies; Anorexia; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms; Radiodermatitis; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Cisplatin; Chemoradiotherapy
PubMed: 37652522
DOI: 10.21873/invivo.13323