Calendula
Effective Against Radiation-Induced Dermatitis in Breast Cancer
According to a recent article published in The Journal of
Clinical Oncology, calendula (Calendula Officinalis) appears
more effective than trolamine (Biafine ®) at reducing or
preventing the incidence of dermatitis caused by radiation
in the treatment of breast cancer.
Radiation therapy is a common component in the treatment
of breast cancer. Unfortunately, radiation therapy may cause
side effects, often to the site that it is delivered. Side
effects to the skin within the area to which the radiation
is delivered are among the most common side effects caused
by radiation therapy. Dermatitis is an inflammation of the
skin, which may cause redness, pain, itching and even blisters
or cracked skin. If dermatitis becomes severe enough, optimal
dosing and scheduling of radiation is interrupted to allow
the skin to heal. Trolamine is a topical agent that is often
used to prevent or reduce dermatitis caused by radiation therapy.
However, approximately half of the patients using trolamine
may still experience dermatitis caused by radiation therapy
and researchers are evaluating different agents in order to
reduce side effects to the skin, allowing for the optimal
delivery of radiation therapy.
Researchers from France recently conducted a clinical trial
to compare topical calendula, often known as the marigold,
to trolamine in the reduction or prevention of radiation-induced
dermatitis in breast cancer patients. This trial included
254 patients who were to receive radiation following surgery
in the treatment of breast cancer. Approximately half of the
patients were treated with calendula, and the other half with
trolamine to the site of radiation following each session.
The rate of severe dermatitis (grade II or higher) was only
41% in the patients treated with calendular, compared with
63% of those treated with trolamine. In addition, fewer patients
who were treated with calendula had a disruption in their
radiation schedule, compared to those treated with trolamine.
Patients treated with calendula also experienced less pain
caused by radiation than those treated with trolamine.
The researchers concluded that calendula appears to be more
effective than trolamine at reducing or preventing severe
radiation-induced dermatitis in patients with breast cancer.
By preventing acute dermatitis, more patients were able to
maintain optimal radiation schedules, proving an improved
chance for superior long-term outcomes. Patients who are to
undergo radiation therapy may wish to speak with their physician
about the risks and benefits of participating in a clinical
trial evaluating calendula or other novel approaches to reducing
dermatitis. Two sources of information regarding ongoing clinical
trials are the National Cancer Institute ( cancer.gov) and
www.cancerconsultants.com. Personalized clinical trial searches
may also be performed by cancerconsultants.com.
Reference: Pommier P, Gomez F, Sunyach M, et al. Phase III
randomized trial of Calendula Officinalis compared with trolamine
for the prevention of acute dermatitis during irradiation
for breast cancer. The Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2004;
22: 1447-1453.
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