Neoplasms

Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases

All Conditions

Wounds and Injuries

Breast Neoplasms

Dermatitis

Radiodermatitis

Skin Diseases

Radiation Injuries

All Drugs and Chemicals

Superoxide Dismutase

All patients receive APN201 and placebo at the same time. The irradiated region is divided vertically into two symmetric areas (left and right). One area is treated with APN201, the other area is treated with placebo (empty liposomes formulated as a hydrophilic gel) in a double-blind fashion.

APN201 (recombinant human superoxide dismutase (rhSOD) encapsulated in liposomal vesicles formulated as a hydrophilic gel)

All patients receive APN201 and placebo at the same time. The irradiated region is divided vertically into two symmetric areas (left and right). One area is treated with APN201 (recombinant human superoxide dismutase (rhSOD) encapsulated in liposomal vesicles formulated as a hydrophilic gel; 1.6 mg rhSOD per mL), the other area is treated with placebo (empty liposomes formulated as a hydrophilic gel) in a double-blind fashion.

Study treatment (APN201 and placebo) starts on the day of initiation of radiation therapy and continues until the end of radiation therapy to the whole breast (25 or 28 daily fractions to a total dose of 50.0 Gy or 50.4 Gy, respectively). Study treatment is applied as a thin film on the irradiated area ≥10 minutes each day before radiation therapy (approximately 1 mL APN201 per 100 cm2 of the radiation field size and approximately 1 ml placebo per 100 cm2 of the radiation field size).

APN201

Placebo

The standard treatment for early-stage breast cancer is breast-conserving surgery followed by adjuvant radiation therapy to the whole breast. This approach leads to low recurrence rates with a good cosmesis and provides an effective alternative to mastectomy. However, in most women receiving radiotherapy radiation dermatitis occur to some degree.

Radiation dermatitis generally manifests within a few weeks after the start of radiation therapy. Its onset varies depending on the radiation dose intensity and the normal tissue sensitivity of individuals. As the cumulative dose of radiation increases the transient erythema occurring during the first weeks of radiotherapy may evolve into the more persistent erythema and to dry or even moist desquamation that reflects the damage to the basal cell layer and the sweat and sebaceous glands.

There is currently no evidence that prophylactic treatments, beyond keeping the irradiated area clean and dry, are effective in reducing the incidence or severity of radiation dermatitis (Bolderston et al. 2006).

However, together with other enzymes of the peroxidase pathway, SOD scavenges the superoxide, hydroxyl, and other oxygenated free radicals (Klug et al. 1972; Tainer at al. 1983). In physiological conditions, the production of free radicals (Monte \& Sacerdote 1994) and the action of antiradicals' enzymes is balanced. Following tissue injuries, either pathological or caused by agents such as radiation therapy, an excess production of free radicals is observed (Petkau 1986; Lorette \& Machet 2001). Furthermore, basal SOD is increased in breast cancer patients before radiation therapy as compared to controls (Seth et al. 2003), and decreases after radiotherapy (Ray at al. 2000). Hence, liposomal rhSOD applied during radiotherapy could be used to prevent the effects of free radicals and thus might protect the patient's skin from radiation-induced skin reactions.

TREATMENT PLAN All patients receive APN201 and placebo at the same time. The irradiated region is divided vertically into two symmetric areas (left and right). One area is treated with APN201, the other area is treated with placebo in a double-blind fashion.

Study treatment (APN201 and placebo) starts on the day of initiation of radiation therapy and continues until the end of radiation therapy to the whole breast (25 or 28 daily fractions to a total dose of 50.0 Gy or 50.4 Gy, respectively) (see schedule of assessments, section 5.1).

Study treatment is stopped if radiation dermatitis of ≥ grade 2 occurs in one or both treated areas for ≥ 3 days AND a difference in the severity of radiation dermatitis of ≥ 1 grade is seen between the two treated areas. From that point in time the patient only receives the treatment that appeared to be beneficial and this treatment is applied to the whole irradiated region until completion of the 25th, respectively 28th, fraction.

Treatment stops earlier in case of progressive disease or unacceptable toxicity or intolerability.

Study of APN201 (Liposomal Recombinant Human Cu/Zn-Superoxide Dismutase) for the Prevention of Radiation-induced Dermatitis in Women With Breast Cancer

Randomized, Double-blind, Split-body, Placebo-controlled Phase Ib Study of APN201 (Liposomal Recombinant Human Cu/Zn-superoxide Dismutase) for the Prevention of Radiation-induced Dermatitis in Women With Breast Cancer

Adverse events, vital signs and laboratory assessments (hematology, serum chemistry) are used for safety evaluations.

The following parameters are used for efficacy evaluations:

* Time to ≥ grade 2 radiation dermatitis
* Incidence of ≥ grade 2 radiation dermatitis
* Severity of radiation dermatitis
* Pain intensity (pain on touching the skin) due to radiation therapy
* Irradiated skin evaluations using the digital wound documentation system W.H.A.T. (wound healing analysing tool) and a spectrophotometer

Apeiron Biologics

Herbal and Botanical

Nigella

Patients will not receive any prophylactic intervention, as there is no standard of care for prophylaxis to the radiation induced dermatitis (RID).

Patients will receive Imtenan ® N. sativa oil apply 1.5 mls; twice daily; not sooner than 2 hours before and after radiation therapy; from day 1 of radiation therapy till the end.

Patients will receive Baraka ® N. sativa gelatin capsules; 40-80 mg/Kg/day; from day 1 of radiation therapy till the end

Imtenan Oil

Baraka Capsules

Mayar Waleed Salaheldin Aly, M.Sc.

Radiation induced dermatitis (RID) is one of the leading adverse events of radiation therapy, and if occurred could alter the course of therapy. The main pathways of RID is inflammation and oxidative stress on local and systemic bases. Nigella sativa is an herbal medicine whose anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities have been proven in several clinical trials. Thus, the aim of the present study is to evaluate the efficacy of Nigella sativa as a prophylactic method against the development of RID.

Radiation induced dermatitis (RID) is one of the most commonly reported adverse events of breast radiation therapy (RT).Radiation therapy toxicity is exhibited within hours to weeks of exposure and persisting throughout the course of treatment. Radiation induced dermatitis is a result of generation of reactive oxygen species (ROSs), which in return induces epidermal and dermal inflammatory responses. Radiation causes structural tissue damage, which trigger production of pro-inflammatory mediators; as NF-κB, iNOS, COX-2, EGFR, MCP-1, and cytokines such as IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, TNF-a, and IFN- γ, and immune-stimulatory response; involving an increased movement of leukocytes from the blood into the irradiated tissues. Subsequently erythema, ulceration, and edema are developed. This is then followed by thinning of the epidermis, accompanied with degeneration of glands, which manifests as dry desquamation. If damage to the basal cells and glands is more severe, moist desquamation occur. From previous, it can be deduced that inflammatory response plays a significant role in the radiotherapy induced dermatitis.

There are many agents that are used in the management of RID in the clinical settings, however, up till now there is none supported by the guidelines. Radiation induced dermatitis occurrence, not only could it impair the patient's quality of life but it could also affect the RT course of treatment, which could negatively influence the cancer treatment. Therefore more effort is needed to find a method of prevention of RID, resulting from breast RT, especially that there is no standard of care for prophylaxis to the radiation induced dermatitis (RID).

Nigella sativa is herbal medicine that has been widely used in different parts of the world by different cultures. It has been used traditionally as a remedy for several diseases including fever, cough, chronic headache, dizziness, back pain, dysmenorrhea, obesity, diabetes, infection and inflammation, hypertension, and gastrointestinal disorders such as flatulence, and dysentery. Preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated the anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, analgesic, and antimicrobial properties of N. sativa.

Thymoquinone (TQ) is the prominent constituent of Nigella sativa, to which the biological properties have been attributed. Thymoquinone can act as a potent free radical and superoxide radical scavenger at both nanomolar and micromolar range, respectively. As well as, its beneficial effects on antioxidant enzymes, and its detrimental effects on pro-inflammatory mediators/cytokines, and pro-inflammatory transcription factor; nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB).

Based on literature, Nigella sativa has been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. As, both the fixed oil of N. sativa, as well as thymoquinone (the main compound of the essential oil), were proven to inhibit non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation and have an appreciable free radical scavenging properties. Furthermore, orally administered Nigella sativa oil showed a reduction of IL-4 and NO production in rats. Additionally, Thymoquinone showed anti-inflammatory activity through inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX) and 5-lipooxygenase (5-LPO), as well as through lowering TNF-α and IL-1β levels in arthritis in rats. It is worth mentioning that thymoquinone was proven to significantly reduce pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell synthesis of MCP-1, TNF-a, IL-1β and Cox-2. It also inhibited the constitutive and TNF-a-mediated activation of NF-kB.

Hence, many clinical trials have been using Nigella sativa, to see its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in different indications including its anti-inflammatory effect in treatment of oral mucositis in head and neck cancers patients, and managing dermatitis in breast cancer patients, and its antioxidant effect in patients with psoriasis, and acute tonsillo-pharyngitis, and many more, where Nigella sativa showed to be not only safe but effective as well. Nigella sativa oil, Baraka ® gelatin capsules, has been used in doses up to 80 mg/kg/day in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, in the protection against doxorubicin-induced cardiac toxicity and in the protection against Methotrexate induced hepatotoxicity, where it was effective and safe.

Group I (control): Patients will not receive any prophylactic intervention, as there is no standard of care for prophylaxis to the radiation induced dermatitis (RID).

Group II (Topical intervention): Patients will receive Imtenan ® N. sativa oil apply 1.5 mls; twice daily; not sooner than 2 hours before and after radiation therapy; from day 1 of radiation therapy till the end.

Group III (Oral intervention): Patients will receive Baraka ® N. sativa gelatin capsules; 40mg/Kg/day; from day 1 of radiation therapy till the end

Evaluation of the Effect of Nigella Sativa for the Prophylaxis to Radiation Induced Dermatitis in Breast Cancer Patients

If the patient developed Radiation induced dermatitis or not

The severity of moist desquamation assessed by Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE, version6) criteria based on the clinical presentation.

Pain related assessment will be done through a Visual Analog Scale, with 0 being No pain and 10 being unbearable pain

Patients will be educated and instructed to report any adverse events

Skin-related quality of life assessed through the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI)

Time to develop grade 2 RID incidence, will be assessed by Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE, version6) criteria based on the clinical presentation.

Study title	NCT ID	Conditions	Interventions	Eligibility	Organization	Link
Study of APN201 (Liposomal Recombinant Human Cu/Zn-Superoxide Dismutase) for the Prevention of Radiation-induced Dermatitis in Women With Breast Cancer	NCT01513278	Radiation Induc...	APN201 Placebo	18 Years -	Apeiron Biologics
Evaluation of the Effect of Nigella Sativa for the Prophylaxis to Radiation Induced Dermatitis in Breast Cancer Patients	NCT05693597	Radiation Derma...	Imtenan Oil Baraka Capsules	18 Years - 75 Years	German University in Cairo

Spots Global Cancer Trial Database for radiation induced dermatitis