Silver clear nylon dressing is effective in preventing radiation-induced dermatitis in patients with lower gastrointestinal cancer: results from a phase III study.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

For patients with anal canal and advanced rectal cancer, chemoradiation therapy is a curative modality or an important adjunct to surgery. Nearly all patients treated with chemoradiation experience some degree of radiation-induced dermatitis (RID). Prevention and effective treatment of RID, therefore, is of considerable clinical relevance. The present phase III randomized trial compared the efficacy of silver clear nylon dressing (SCND) with that of standard skin care for these patients.

METHODS AND MATERIALS:

A total of 42 rectal or anal canal cancer patients were randomized to either a SCND or standard skin care group. SCND was applied from Day 1 of radiation therapy (RT) until 2 weeks after treatment completion. In the control arm, sulfadiazine cream was applied at the time of skin dermatitis. Printed digital photographs taken 2 weeks prior to, on the last day, and two weeks after the treatment completion were scored by 10 blinded readers, who used the common toxicity scoring system for skin dermatitis.

RESULTS:

The radiation dose ranged from 50.4 to 59.4 Gy, and there were no differences between the 2 groups. On the last day of RT, when the most severe RID occurs, the mean dermatitis score was 2.53 (standard deviation [SD], 1.17) for the standard and 1.67 (SD, 1.2; P=.01) for the SCND arm. At 2 weeks after RT, the difference was 0.39 points in favor of SCND (P=.39). There was considerable intraclass correlation among the 10 observers.

CONCLUSIONS:

Silver clear nylon dressing is effective in reducing RID in patients with lower gastrointestinal cancer treated with combined chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

• Authors: Tamim M Niazi, Te Vuong, Laurant Azoulay, Corrie Marijnen, Kryzstof Bujko, Elie Nasr, Christine Lambert, Marie Duclos, Sergio Faria, Marc David, Bernard Cummings
• Journal: International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics (Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys) Vol. 84 Issue 3 Pg. e305-10 (Nov 01 2012) ISSN: 1879-355X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22652101 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Phase III, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Dermatologic Agents
• Nylons
• Sulfadiazine
• Silver Sulfadiazine

Topics

• Aged
• Anus Neoplasms (drug therapy, radiotherapy)
• Bandages
• Dermatologic Agents (administration & dosage)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Nylons
• Photography
• Prospective Studies
• Protective Clothing
• Radiodermatitis (prevention & control)
• Radiotherapy Dosage
• Radiotherapy, Conformal (adverse effects)
• Rectal Neoplasms (drug therapy, radiotherapy)
• Silver Sulfadiazine (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Skin Cream (administration & dosage)
• Sulfadiazine (administration & dosage)