Breast Cancer: Targets and Therapy (Dec 2021)
Effect of Heparinoid Moisturizer on Quality of Life in Patients with Acute Radiation Skin Damage Following Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy After Breast-Conserving Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Study
Abstract
Jiro Kawamori,1 Tomoko Itazawa,1 Shoko Fukushima,2 Ryoko Ito,1 Hideko Yamauchi,3 Kenji Sekiguchi4 1Department of Radiation Oncology, St. Luke’s International Hospital, Tokyo, Japan; 2Kumagai Clinic, Tokyo, Japan; 3Department of Breast Surgery, St Luke’s International Hospital, Tokyo, Japan; 4Sonoda-kai Radiation Oncology Clinic, Tokyo, JapanCorrespondence: Jiro KawamoriDepartment of Radiation Oncology, St. Luke’s International Hospital, 9-1 Akashi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-8560, JapanTel +81 3 5550 7006Fax +81 3 3544 0649Email [email protected]: With few research reports on the effects of moisturizer use for dry skin associated with radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery on patient quality of life (QOL), we conducted a randomized controlled trial to investigate this effect.Methods: Patients with breast cancer were randomly assigned to receive either heparinoid moisturizer (Group M) or no treatment (Group C). Group M was instructed to apply heparinoid moisturizer during 3 weeks of hypofractionated whole-breast irradiation with or without boost until 4 weeks after completion of irradiation. Skin-related QOL was assessed using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) for 7 weeks. The primary endpoint was total DLQI score at 4 weeks after the start date.Results: In total, 35 patients in Group M and 37 patients in Group C were analyzed. The DLQI total score (2.06 ± 2.17: mean ± SD) at 4 weeks in Group M was slightly lower than in Group C (2.16 ± 2.13) but with no significant difference (p = 0.894). The “Symptoms and feelings” subscore indicated significant worsening at 3 weeks and maintained until 7 weeks in Group C. There was no significant change for this subscore during radiotherapy in Group M, and it significantly increased after radiotherapy (4– 5 weeks) and returned to baseline in 7 weeks. The period of subscore worsening was shorter in Group M than in Group C.Conclusion: Concomitant and extended use of heparinoid moisturizer with radiation therapy may improve the QOL of breast cancer patients impaired by dry skin for patients with breast cancer.Keywords: breast cancer, radiation dermatitis, asteatosis, heparinoid moisturizer, skin-related quality of life
