title: Retrospective study of radiotherapy-induced skin reactions in breast cancer patients: reduced incidence of moist desquamation with a hydroactive colloid gel versus dexpanthenol.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dermatitis is a very frequent and distressing side effect of radiation therapy that may necessitate a treatment interruption when evolving towards more severe forms such as moist desquamation (MD). The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of two topical agents, a dexpanthenol cream vs a hydroactive colloid gel combining absorbing and moisturising properties, in preventing MD in breast cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study compared two successive groups of breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy after breast-sparing surgery between 2008 and 2012. A group of 267 patients applied a 5% dexpanthenol cream on the irradiated zone throughout the course of their radiotherapy. Another group of 216 patients applied first the dexpanthenol cream then replaced it by the hydroactive colloid gel after 11-14 days of radiotherapy. Radiation treatment (total dose, technique, and equipment) was the same for the two groups. The clinical outcomes were the occurrence and time to onset of moist desquamation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall incidence of MD was significantly lower in patients who applied the hydroactive colloid gel (16%) than in those who applied the dexpanthenol cream (32%, odds-ratio = 0.35). Also, MD occurred significantly later with the hydroactive colloid gel than with the dexpanthenol cream (hazard ratio = 0.39).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with the dexpanthenol cream, the hydroactive colloid gel significantly reduced the risk of developing MD in patients undergoing radiotherapy for breast cancer. These promising results warrant further research on the efficacy of hydroactive colloid gels in managing radiation dermatitis.
authors.affiliation: Jessa Hospital, Oncology Department (Datamanagement), Stadsomvaart 11, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium. Electronic address: Sandrine.Censabella@jessazh.be.
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Censabella
authors.affiliation: Limburg Oncology Centre, Stadsomvaart 11, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium. Electronic address: Stefan.Claes@jessazh.be.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Claes
authors.affiliation: Limburg Oncology Centre, Stadsomvaart 11, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium. Electronic address: Marc.Orlandini@jessazh.be.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Orlandini
authors.affiliation: Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and Statistical Bioinformatics, Hasselt University, Agoralaan 1, B3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium; Catholic University of Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 35, Blok D, Bus 7001, B3000 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: roel.braekers@uhasselt.be.
authors.forename: Roel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Braekers
authors.affiliation: Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and Statistical Bioinformatics, Hasselt University, Agoralaan 1, B3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium; Catholic University of Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 35, Blok D, Bus 7001, B3000 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: herbert.thijs@uhasselt.be.
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thijs
authors.affiliation: Limburg Oncology Centre, Stadsomvaart 11, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium. Electronic address: Paul.Bulens@jessazh.be.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bulens
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003102:Colloids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007641:Keratolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010205:Pantothenic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011855:Radiodermatitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003102:Colloids; D005782:Gels; D007641:Keratolytic Agents; D010205:Pantothenic Acid; C007288:dexpanthenol
keywords: Breast cancer; Dexpanthenol; Hydroactive colloid gel; Hydrocolloid; Hydrogel; Moist desquamation; Radiation dermatitis; Radiodermatitis; Radiotherapy-induced skin reactions