A green tea extract has been demonstrated as reducing the severity of radiation-induced dermatitis. The extract contains epigallocatechin-3-gallate, and it has been studied in the context of dermatitis patterns after breast cancer surgery.
The Chinese study used a solution containing a green tea extract and this was found, through a phase 2 randomised, placebo-controlled trial, to lower both the incidence and severity of radiation-induced dermatitis in women undergoing adjunctive radiotherapy for breast cancer.
With the treatment of women with breast cancer, a lumpectomy, followed by irradiation, is often an appropriate therapy for women with breast cancer. One side effect, however, is radiation-induced dermatitis.
The dermatitis can be treated using topical prophylactic corticosteroids (like mometasone); however, these are not always effective in lowering the levels of discomfort and itching.
In contrast, a green tea extract containing epigallocatechin-3-gallate could help with restitution of skin integrity. Theis relates to a possible an anti-inflammatory effect. Other benefits may include acute skin-induced reactions after radiation including pain, the burning-feeling, itching, pulling and tenderness.
To explore this, as reported in Hospital Pharmacy Europe, the researchers studied women with breast cancer undergoing postoperative radiotherapy and randomised them to receive either the green tea extract or placebo (which was normal saline solution). The two types of solutions were sprayed to the whole of the radiation field from the first day of therapy until two weeks after completion of treatment.
With the study, 165 women with a median age of 46 years were enrolled and randomised to the epigallocatechin-3-gallate group or into the placebo group. With both groups, as dermatitis began to occur two to three weeks after the start of treatment.
At the end of the trial, it was found that the incidence of grade 2 or above dermatitis was 50.5 percent in the green tea extract group and it was 72.2 dermatitis in the placebo group. In addition, symptom scores were also lower among the women receiving the green tea extract compound.
The interim conclusions is that prophylactic use of a green tea extract reduced both the incidence and severity of radiation-induced dermatitis and that it therefore has the potential to become a new choice for skin care in women receiving radiotherapy. Further research will be needed to support or challenge these findings.
The research appears in the journal JAMA Dermatol, titled “Efficacy of Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate in Preventing Dermatitis in Patients With Breast Cancer Receiving Postoperative Radiotherapy: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Phase 2 Randomized Clinical Trial.”
