Background and objective: Light-emitting diode (LED) photomodulation increases dermal collagen and reduces inflammation. This study evaluated the use of LED photomodulation in the prevention of radiation-induced dermatitis in breast cancer.
Materials and methods: Patients (n=19) were treated with LED photomodulation (Gentlewaves, Light BioScience, LLC, Virginia Beach, VA) after each of a series of intensity-modulated radiation treatments (IMRT). Skin reactions were monitored weekly with National Cancer Institute (NCI) criteria. Age-matched controls (n=28) received IMRT without LED photomodulation.
Results: In LED-treated patients, 18 (94.7%) had grade 0 or 1 reaction and 1 (5.3%) had grade 2 reaction. Among controls, 4 (14.3%) had a grade 1 reaction, 24 (85.7%) had a grade 2 or 3 reaction. One LED-treated patient (5.3%) and 19 controls (67.9%) had to interrupt treatment.
Conclusion: LED photomodulation treatments immediately after IMRT reduces the incidence of NCI grades 1, 2, and 3 skin reactions in patients with breast cancer treated by radiation therapy (RT) postlumpectomy.
(c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.