Szumacher, E., Wighton, A., Franssen, E., Chow, E., Tsao, M., Ackerman, I., … Hayter, C. (2001). Phase II study assessing the effectiveness of Biafine cream as a prophylactic agent for radiation-induced acute skin toxicity to the breast in women undergoing radiotherapy with concomitant CMF chemotherapy. International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics, 51, 81–86.
To assess the efficacy of Biafine cream in preventing grade 2 acute radiodermatitis.
Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Skin within the RT field was examined before the initiation of RT, at weekly intervals, and at two and four weeks after treatment by a radiation oncologist or a dedicated radiation technologist.
The Skin Assessment Questionnaire was scored according to the National Cancer Institute of Canada skin radiation toxicity criteria.
The self-administered questionnaire incorporated items from the instrument developed for the Ontario Clinical Oncology Group trial of hypofractionated RT after lumpectomy in women with node-negative breast cancer.
The study was an exploratory, phase II, intervention trial.
The majority of patients who underwent concomitant chemotherapy and RT for breast cancer developed grade 2 radiodermatitis with the use of Biafine cream.