3400 - Radiation dose variables related to the causes of skin toxicities in women with breast cancer: a study proposal

Background

Dermatologic toxicities related to radiotherapy treatments affect substantially the patient’s quality of life. It is well stated that the causes are closely related to the radiotherapy treatment technique and to the individual genetic variation factors. More specifically, the received by each skin point is suggested as one of the most important among those causes. But there are still no studies proving this correlation as the skin radiation dose is only assessed within a 15% uncertainty using the current feasible procedures in a common department. On the contrary, we would expect a good correlation, even more, stating a skin-toxicities predicting method by assessing the skin dose using a feasible 5% uncertainty procedure.

Methods

Prospective transversal study of breast cancer patients receiving normofractionated external radiation therapy, without bolus compensator. This study uses a non-invasive innovative method to obtain accurate skin radiation doses based in a Software as a Service and radiochromic films.The prescribed dose, the dose report from the Treatment Planning System as well as its class and version, the irradiated volume and measured skin dose and extension by means of this innovative method at fractions 1, 2, 3, 15, 25 and end of treatment will be collected and correlated to acute skin toxicities of the patients. This will be performed using the Radiation Therapy Group gradation during the nurse visit ongoing- and post-treatment till 90 days since its ending.

Results

This study will state a skin radiation dose – toxicity relationship for breast cancer patients as a result of a Pearson correlation coefficient analysis for each pair of variables.

Conclusions

The most common action in a nurse care plan is to treat signs and symptoms of the dermatologic toxicities but its causes are excluded, mainly due to a lack of knowledge. This study tries to formally state the skin radiation dose – toxicities relationship and, furthermore, the theoretical bases to determine and predict the skin radiation toxicities grade for each treatment. Even more, this will become a useful tool to improve the treatment success probability as well as empowering nursing for designing more accurate patient-specific radiotherapy care plans.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

The authors.

Funding

Has not received any funding.

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.