Donna Hoopfer1, Caroline Holloway2, Zsolt Gabos3, Maha Alidrisi3, Susan Chafe3, Barbara Krause3, Alan Lees3, Nirmal Mehta3, Keith Tankel3, Faith Strickland4, John Hanson5, Charlotte King5, Sunita Ghosh6, Diane Severin7. 1. KADA Consulting, Edmonton, AB, Canada. 2. BC Cancer Agency Vancouver Island Centre, Victoria, BC, Canada. 3. Department of Radiation Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, AB, Canada. 4. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, and Henry Ford Health Science Center, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI. 5. Division of Population Health and Information, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, AB, Canada. 6. Department of Medical Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, AB, Canada. 7. Department of Radiation Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, AB, Canada. Electronic address: diane.severin@albertahealthservices.ca.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The efficacy of aloe extract in reducing radiation-induced skin injury is controversial. The purpose of the present 3-arm randomized trial was to test the efficacy of quality-tested aloe extract in reducing the severity of radiation-induced skin injury and, secondarily, to examine the effect of a moist cream versus a dry powder skin care regimen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 248 patients with breast cancer were randomized to powder, aloe cream, or placebo cream. Acute skin toxicity was scored weekly and after treatment at weeks 1, 2, and 4 using a modified 10-point Catterall scale. The patients scored their symptom severity using a 6-point Likert scale and kept an acute phase diary. RESULTS: The aloe formulation did not reduce acute skin toxicity or symptom severity. Patients with a greater body mass index were more likely to develop acute skin toxicity. A similar pattern of increased skin reaction toxicity occurred with both study creams compared with the dry powder regimen. CONCLUSION: No evidence was found to support prophylactic application of quality aloe extract or cream to improve the symptoms or reduce the skin reaction severity. Our results support a dry skin care regimen of powder during radiation therapy.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: The efficacy of aloe extract in reducing radiation-induced skin injury is controversial. The purpose of the present 3-arm randomized trial was to test the efficacy of quality-tested aloe extract in reducing the severity of radiation-induced skin injury and, secondarily, to examine the effect of a moist cream versus a dry powder skin care regimen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 248 patients with breast cancer were randomized to powder, aloe cream, or placebo cream. Acute skin toxicity was scored weekly and after treatment at weeks 1, 2, and 4 using a modified 10-point Catterall scale. The patients scored their symptom severity using a 6-point Likert scale and kept an acute phase diary. RESULTS: The aloe formulation did not reduce acute skin toxicity or symptom severity. Patients with a greater body mass index were more likely to develop acute skin toxicity. A similar pattern of increased skin reaction toxicity occurred with both study creams compared with the dry powder regimen. CONCLUSION: No evidence was found to support prophylactic application of quality aloe extract or cream to improve the symptoms or reduce the skin reaction severity. Our results support a dry skin care regimen of powder during radiation therapy.
Authors: Songmi Ahn; Kihoon Sung; Hyun Ju Kim; Young Eun Choi; Young Kyu Lee; Jeong Soo Kim; Seul Ki Lee; Joo-Young Roh Journal: In Vivo Date: 2020 Jan-Feb Impact factor: 2.155
Authors: Kaitlyn Lapen; Christopher Sabol; Amy L Tin; Kathleen Lynch; Alyse Kassa; Xiaolin Mabli; John Ford; Elaine Cha; Michael B Bernstein; Lior Z Braunstein; Oren Cahlon; Bobby M Daly; Kiri Sandler; Susan A McCloskey; Andrew J Vickers; Atif J Khan; Erin F Gillespie Journal: Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys Date: 2021-07-24 Impact factor: 7.038