Iervolino, V., Di Costanzo, G., Azzaro, R., Diodato, A.M., Di Macchia, C.A., Di Meo, T., . . . Cacciapuoti, C. (2013). Platelet gel in cutaneous radiation dermatitis. Supportive Care in Cancer, 21, 287–293.
To evaluate the effectiveness of an autologous platelet gel dressing in treating chronic skin dermatitis due to radiation therapy
After being prepared in a lab on the same day, the authors detail a \"homemade\" platelet gel made from the patient's blood. This gel patch was applied with the intent of promoting healing and tissue repair. Each gel application was cut to the size of the affected area of chronic dermatitis/ulcer from radiation therapy and applied weekly for 35 days. The area was digitally imaged before, during, and after treatment by unidentified provider type(s) at the transfusional medicine department of the Naples Tumour Institute. Unidentified staff evaluated the condition of the wounds after treatment—immediately after treatment in five patients, six months later in three patients, one year later in one patient, and two years later in another patient.
Seven out of the 10 treated patients showed a complete rate of healing varying from 21–49 days and after a range of three to seven applications of the platelet gel. Two patients' treatments with the gel were held after they had disease progression and metastases. One patient's treatment was discontinued after six applications because of an \"incomplete response.\" Upon follow-up, no patients had recurrence or complications (unclear if this means disease/cancer recurrence or skin reaction recurrence) as a result of the platelet gel, and at five years post-treatment, six of the seven patients who had demonstrated a complete response remained disease-free (unclear if this means cancer-free or radiation dermatitis-free).
In this limited, disease-specific, small population sample, autologous platelet gel application seemed clinically useful and successful at treating third and fourth degree skin reactions. Patients with limb sarcoma who have surgery and then radiation therapy and develop moderate to severe skin reactions or ulcerations may benefit from weekly applications of autologous platelet gel to the affected areas.
The science of this treatment seems sound, based on the role of platelets in tissue repair and growth factors released by activated platelets. A larger patient sample size, including patients with different types of cancer, might address the effectiveness of autologous platelet gel application in radiation dermatitis post-radiation therapy.