DERMISHEAD

GOAL

Evaluation of the efficacy of photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy in the prevention  of acute radiodermatitis in head and neck cancer patients

STUDY DESIGN

Placebo-controlled, randomized trial with head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy  at the Jessa Hospital or Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg  (NCT02738268)  from January 2016 until present

Control group (n=18)	PBM group (n=28)
Standard skin care	Standard skin care
Radiotherapy (+chemotherapy)	Radiotherapy (+chemotherapy)
Placebo treatment (2x/week, from start radiotherapy)	PBM (2x/week, from start radiotherapie)

STUDY RESULTS

Results show a significant reduction in the severity of the skin reactions during radiotherapy due to PBM.

PUBLICATIONS

Robijns J, Lodewijckx J, Puts S, Censabella S, Claes S, Pannekoeke L, Bussé L, Colson D, Kaminski I, Broux V, Bulens P, Maes A, Noé L, Brosens M, Timmermans A, Lambrichts I, Somers V, Mebis J. Photobiomodulation therapy for the prevention of acute radiodermatitis in head and neck cancer patients: preliminary results of a patient blinded, multicentric trial (DERMISHEAD trial). Support Care Cancer. 2019 May 18:1-302. MASCC annual meeting, San Francisco, USA, 21- 23/06/2019

Robijns J, Lodewijckx J, Claes S, Van Bever L, Pannekoeke L, Censabella S, Bussé L, Colson D, Kaminski I, Broux V, Puts S, Vanmechelen S, Timmermans A, Noé L, Bulens P, Govers M, Maes A, Mebis J. Photobiomodulation therapy for the prevention of acute radiation dermatitis in head and neck cancer patients (DERMISHEAD trial). Radiother Oncol. 2021 Mar 10;158:268-275. doi: 10.1016/j.radonc.2021.03.002.

PARTNERS