RADIATION-INDUCED dermatitis (RID) is a common and often debilitating side effect of adjuvant radiotherapy in breast cancer patients, impacting both comfort and quality of life. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been suggested as a possible intervention to alleviate RID, but its effectiveness remains inconclusive. This pilot study sought to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and potential benefits of HBOT in reducing the severity of RID.
The study involved 30 patients undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy for breast cancer, who were randomly assigned to either an HBOT group or a standard care group. Those in the HBOT group received 100% oxygen at 1.5 atmospheres absolute, for 30 minutes per session, three times a week for seven weeks. The primary aim was to determine whether HBOT could reduce the incidence of grade 2 or higher RID, based on established criteria. Secondary outcomes included various quality of life and skin discomfort assessments, including the Skindex-29, Catterall Skin Scoring Profile, Numeric Rating Scale, and the EORTC QLQ Core Questionnaire-C30.
The results indicated that 73.3% of patients in both the HBOT and control groups experienced grade 2 or higher RID, with no significant difference between the groups. There were no notable differences in primary or secondary outcomes, although trends suggesting lower skin-related discomfort and improved patient-reported outcomes were observed in the HBOT group. Importantly, HBOT was well tolerated, with no serious adverse events reported.
In conclusion, this pilot study did not find a significant reduction in the severity of RID with HBOT. However, the therapy was safe and well tolerated, showing potential benefits in terms of patient comfort and quality of life. Larger studies with refined protocols are necessary to further assess the role of HBOT in managing RID
Reference
Lee JY et al. Efficacy and safety of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for radiation-induced dermatitis in patients with breast cancer: a randomized pilot study. Support Care Cancer. 2025;33(5):399.
