New Technology Reduces Incidence and Level of Radiation-Induced Dermatitis.

The study demonstrates how light-emitting diode (LED) photomodulation technology considerably reduced the incidence and degree of radiation-induced dermatitis, which often occurs because of this severe skin reaction.

Radiation therapy (RT) is a major component in the treatment of breast cancer; however, a common adverse effect associated with RT is acute radiation dermatitis (inflammation of the skin). In spite of newer sophisticated techniques, radiation-induced dermatitis develops in an estimated 87% of breast cancer patients treated with RT. When skin reactions are severe, it may be necessary to interrupt or even stop RT permanently.

In the study, Dr. Maitland DeLand, oncologist and president of OncoLogics, Inc. (Lafayette, LA, USA), chose to evaluate the company's GentleWaves LED photomodulation technology because it was being used by dermatologists to improve skin quality, elasticity, tone and texture. Moreover, research had shown that GentleWaves is safe, noninvasive, and an easy-to-use treatment that can be used on all skin types.

In the study, 47 patients each received an average of 28 radiation treatments over a five- to six-week period. Patients were staged before enrollment and all Fitzpatrick skin types were accepted. Patients were placed into LED and control categories on the basis of clinical data obtained by retrospective review. All patients had breast conservation surgery and histopathically proven primary breast adenocarinoma (malignant tumor) with or without lymph metastases.

In the study, 19 patients received GentleWaves LED photomodulation treatment immediately after RT and for the entire period of RT. Age-matched controls were treated under the same intensity-modulated radiation treatment (IMRT) protocol without LED photomodulation. Skin reactions were graded weekly, and at the end of the final treatment to the entire breast. The number of occasions on which patients had to stop receiving RT was also recorded.

Dr. DeLand found that LED photomodulation decreased the inflammation and much of the discomfort reported after radiation. After treating with GentleWaves post-radiation, none of the patients incurred moist reactions or peeled skin and only one experienced moderate erythema.

"Though GentleWaves isn't directly treating breast cancer, administering this proprietary LED therapy after radiation plays an active role in minimizing the side effects,” Dr. DeLand reported. "Patients' acceptance of LED treatment was high and very little additional time was required as the GentleWaves treatment takes less than one minute.”

In addition to combining GentleWaves with radiation therapy, Dr. DeLand also offers her patients the LED treatment for cosmetic facial rejuvenation. "The quick enhancement doesn't take long, and the patients appreciate the extra care. I had one lady tell me it was the first good thing that had happened to her since she'd had cancer,” Dr. DeLand said.

The study's results were published in the February 2007 issue of the journal Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.


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