Quantitative Changes in Skin Composition Parameters after Radiation Therapy According to Surgery Types Among Patients with Breast Cancer: A Prospective Study

We conducted prospective study to evaluate the radiation dermatitis (RD) with both quantitative measurements and patient-reported outcomes. RD was compared between breast-conserving surgery (n = 20), and modified-radical mastectomy (n = 20) groups. Quantitatively measured skin changes and patient-reported symptoms sustained until 3 months after the radiotherapy. The erythema was more severe in the modified-radical mastectomy group 1 week after the start of radiotherapy. Background: In the current study, we sought to evaluate and compare the objective changes in biophysical parameters and patient-reported outcomes following radiation therapy (RT) in patients with breast cancer who underwent breast-conserving surgery (BCS) or modified radical mastectomy (MRM). Materials and methods: Patients older than 18 years, with stage I to III breast cancer, who were expected to receive RT were recruited between August 2015 and March 2019. Skin hydration, sebum content, pigmentation, and elasticity of the irradiated and unirradiated breast or chest wall were assessed using a noninvasive bioengineering device. Assessments were performed before the initiation of RT (T0); after the 5th (T1), 15th (T2), and 25th (T3) fractions; and 1 (T4) and 3 months (T5) after the completion of RT. Patient-reported outcomes were also evaluated using Radiation Dermatitis Assessment for Breast Cancer 11. Results: Hydration and sebum levels on the irradiated breast decreased during RT and had not returned to baseline at T5. Erythema on the irradiated breast increased two-fold between T0 and T3, and melanin levels were significantly higher than those at baseline and those of the contralateral unirradiated breast until T5 (106.0 vs. 115.8, P = .03). More than half of the patients continued to report skin color changes, dryness, and pain after RT. The erythema in the irradiated site at T1 was significantly higher in the MRM group than in the BCS group (P for interaction = .04), while there were no significant differences in the changes of the other parameters. Conclusion: RT-induced changes in hydration, sebum, and melanin, and the majority of patient-reported pain, color changes, and dryness, even 3 months after the completion of treatment. There were no remarkable differences in the measurable skin parameters according to the surgery type, with the exception of erythema, which was higher in the MRM group 1 week after the start of RT. (C) 2021 Published by Elsevier Inc.

Automated summary

This prospective study evaluated radiation dermatitis in breast cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy. Objective changes in skin parameters and patient-reported outcomes were compared between breast-conserving surgery and modified radical mastectomy groups. The study found that hydration, sebum, and melanin levels on the irradiated breast changed significantly during and after radiation therapy, with symptoms persisting up to 3 months post-treatment.