Active tea catechin eases radiation burns

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a catechin that is most potent and abundant in tea, is a potential skin care solution in patients receiving radiotherapy, with a phase II study showing that it helps reduce the incidence and severity of radiation-induced dermatitis.

The study included 180 breast cancer patients in China who were undergoing radiotherapy following breast cancer surgery. They were randomized to receive either EGCG solution (660 μmol/L) or placebo (0.9% NaCl saline) spray. The spray was applied to the entire radiation area from day 1 of radiotherapy until 2 weeks after therapy completion.

Researchers assessed the incidence of grade 2 or worse radiation-induced dermatitis (RID; defined by the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group scale) as the primary endpoint. They also evaluated RID index (RIDI), symptom index, changes in the skin temperature measured by infrared thermal images, and safety as secondary endpoints.

A total of 165 patients (median age 46 years) were included in the efficacy analysis, 111 in the EGCG arm, and 54 in the placebo arm. Significantly fewer patients in the EGCG arm developed grade 2 or worse RID (50.5 percent, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 41.2–59.8 vs 72.2 percent, 95 percent CI, 60.3–84.1; p=0.008).

In addition, the mean RID index and symptom indexes were significantly lower in the EGCG than in the placebo arm.

Adverse events were documented in four patients (3.6 percent) in the EGCG arm, including grade 1 pricking skin sensation (n=3, 2.7 percent) and pruritus (n=1, 0.9 percent).