Publication: Three-arm randomized phase III trial: Quality aloe and placebo cream versus powder as skin treatment during breast cancer radiation therapy
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| Title | Three-arm randomized phase III trial: Quality aloe and placebo cream versus powder as skin treatment during breast cancer radiation therapy |
| Topic | Aloe vera |
| Author | Hoopfer, D, Holloway, C, Gabos, Z, Alidrisi, M, Chafe, S, Krause, B, Lees, A, Mehta, N, Tankel, K, Strickland, F, Hanson, J, King, C, Ghosh, S, Severin, D |
| Year | 2015 |
| Journal | Clinical Breast Cancer |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clbc.2014.12.006 |
Author's Abstract The abstract and the information and conclusions contained therein were written by the authors of the publication.
| It has been proposed that aloe cream could reduce the severity of skin toxicity from radiation therapy for breast cancer. The present 3-arm study compared control powder with double-blind aloe or placebo cream and found that the patients who had used dry powder skin care during radiation therapy had a lower severity of skin toxicity than that of the patients who had used either the placebo or aloe cream. We recommend a dry powder
regimen during radiation therapy to reduce the severity of skin toxicity. Background: The efficacy of aloe extract in reducing radiation-induced skin injury is controversial. The purpose of the present 3-arm randomized trial was to test the efficacy of quality-tested aloe extract in reducing the severity of radiation-induced skin injury and, secondarily, to examine the effect of a moist cream versus a dry powder skin care regimen. Materials and Methods: A total of 248 patients with breast cancer were randomized to powder, aloe cream, or placebo cream. Acute skin toxicity was scored weekly and after treatment at weeks 1, 2, and 4 using a modified 10-point Catterall scale. The patients scored their symptom severity using a 6-point Likert scale and kept an acute phase diary. Results: The aloe formulation did not reduce acute skin toxicity or symptom severity. Patients with a greater body mass index were more likely to develop acute skin toxicity. A similar pattern of increased skin reaction toxicity occurred with both study creams compared with the dry powder regimen. Conclusion: No evidence was found to support prophylactic application of quality aloe extract or cream to improve the symptoms or reduce the skin reaction severity. Our results support a dry skin care regimen of powder during radiation therapy. |
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