September 25, 2007 - Findings in a new study, published in the February 2007 issue of Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, suggest a new way to help protect the skin during radiation therapy.
Conducted by Maitland DeLand M.D., oncologist and president of OncoLogics Inc., the study illustrates how GentleWaves LED Photomodulation, manufactured by Light BioScience, significantly reduced the incidence and degree of radiation-induced dermatitis.
Radiation therapy (RT) is a key component in the treatment of breast cancer; however, a common adverse effect associated with RT is acute radiation dermatitis. Despite modern techniques, radiation-induced dermatitis develops in an estimated 87% of breast cancer patients treated with RT. When skin reactions are severe, it may be necessary to interrupt or even stop RT permanently.
Dr. DeLand chose to experiment with the LED Photomodulation technology because it was being used by dermatologists to improve skin quality, elasticity, tone and texture. In addition, research had shown that GentleWaves is safe, non-invasive and an easy-to-use treatment that can be used on all skin types.
In the study, 47 patients each received an average of 28 radiation treatments over a 5 to 6-week period. Patients were staged before enrollment and all Fitzpatrick skin types were accepted. Patients were placed into LED and control categories on the basis of clinical data obtained by retrospective review. All patients had breast conservation surgery and histopathically proven primary breast adenocarinoma (malignant tumor) with or without lymph metastases.
Nineteen patients received GentleWaves LED Photomodulation treatment immediately after RT and for the entire period of RT. Age-matched controls were treated under identical IMRT (intensity-modulated radiation treatment) protocol without LED Photomodulation. Skin reactions were graded weekly and at the end of the final treatment to the entire breast. The number of occasions on which patients had to stop receiving RT was also recorded.
The study found that LED Photomodulation decreased the inflammation and much of the discomfort reported after radiation. After treating with GentleWaves post-radiation, none of the patients incurred moist reactions or peeled skin and only one experienced moderate erythema.
For more information: www.lightbioscience.com
August 09, 2024 
