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The effectiveness of moisturizer on acute radiation-induced dermatitis in breast cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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A Correction to this article was published on 17 November 2022

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Abstract

Purpose

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the effectiveness of moisturizers on acute radiation dermatitis (ARD) in breast cancer patients receiving radiotherapy (RT).

Methods

PubMed, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and Ichushi-Web were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from April 2015 to March 2020. Assessments included type of intervention, cohort, outcomes, and quality of evidence. To evaluate the effect of moisturizer on ARD, we restricted analyses to studies comparing with standard skin care or no treatment. Outcomes were ARD severity and skin-related QOL (quality of life). Eligible studies were identified, and risk ratios and mean differences were extracted to compare outcome data.

Results

We screened 210 RCTs along with 14 studies included in a previous iteration of this analysis (2016), supplemented by a hand search (n = 9). Finally, we included 6 RCTs that investigated the effectiveness of standard type moisturizers in breast cancer patients receiving RT. Evidence (weak certainty) suggests that moisturizer use might reduce ≥ grade 3 ARD. QOL assessed by Skindex-16 improved with moisturizer use. Pain and pruritus measured by the visual analog scale (VAS) resulted in a smaller and nonsignificant difference in favor of moisturizer use. However, the certainty of the evidence was very weak in QOL.

Conclusions

The proactive use of moisturizer may play a role in reducing ARD and improving skin-related QOL, although the certainty of the evidence was weak to very weak. Future high-quality RCTs should be initiated to strengthen these results.

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Acknowledgements

Aspects of this study were presented at the 30th annual meeting of the Japanese Breast Cancer Society, June 30-July 2, 2022, in Yokohama, Japan. The authors are grateful to Martin Guppy Ph.D. for editorial support.

Funding

This study was supported in part by the Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (20EA1016) from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, Japan.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sonoda-kai Radiation Oncology Clinic, 3-4-19 Hokima, Adachi-ku, Tokyo, 121-0064, Japan

    Kenji Sekiguchi

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, St. Luke’s International Hospital, 9-1 Akashi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-8560, Japan

    Kenji Sekiguchi

  3. Radiation Oncology Department, Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital, 35-2 Sakae-cho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, 173-0015, Japan

    Minako Sumi

  4. Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Juntendo University, 2-1-1 Tomioka, Urayasu, Chiba, 279-0021, Japan

    Anneyuko Saito

  5. Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, 6-5-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-8577, Japan

    Sadamoto Zenda

  6. Division of Radiation Oncology, Kanto Rosai Hospital, 1-1 Kizukisumiyoshi-cho, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, 211-8510, Japan

    Satoko Arahira

  7. National College of Nursing, 1-2-1 Umezono, Kiyose, Tokyo, 204-8575, Japan

    Keiko Iino

  8. Department of Radiology, Nagoya University Hospital, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8560, Japan

    Masayuki Okumura

  9. Library, Center for Academic Resources, St. Luke’s International University, 10-1 Akashi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0044, Japan

    Fujimi Kawai

  10. Faculty of Nursing, Mejiro University, 320 Ukiya, Iwatsuki-ku, Saitama, Saitama, 339-8501, Japan

    Keiko Nozawa

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  1. Kenji Sekiguchi
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Correspondence to Kenji Sekiguchi.

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The original online version of this article was revised to replace the wrong supplementary file 3 (12282_2022_1403_MOESM3_ESM) with the correct file.

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Sekiguchi, K., Sumi, M., Saito, A. et al. The effectiveness of moisturizer on acute radiation-induced dermatitis in breast cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Breast Cancer 30, 2–12 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12282-022-01403-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12282-022-01403-8

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