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https://doi.org/10.4081/dr.2026.10026

Protective effect of Cavilon™ on radiodermatitis in breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy

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Published: 26 February 2026
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Breast cancer, radiotherapy, radiodermatitis, Cavilon, radiation dermatitis, sunflower oil

Authors

Paula de Paula Casotti
Cancer Hospital of Muriaé, Fundação Cristiano Varella, Muriaé, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Sérgio Gomes da Silva
sgomesilva@hotmail.com
Cancer Hospital of Muriaé, Fundação Cristiano Varella, Muriaé, Minas Gerais; Afya Itaperuna University Center, Itaperuna, Rio de Janeiro; D’Or Institute for Research and Education, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Ulisses de Barros Ramos
Cancer Hospital of Muriaé, Fundação Cristiano Varella, Muriaé, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Breno Jorge Silveira
Cancer Hospital of Muriaé, Fundação Cristiano Varella, Muriaé, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Fabrizio dos Santos Cardoso
Cancer Hospital of Muriaé, Fundação Cristiano Varella, Muriaé, Minas Gerais; São Vicente de Paulo Hospital, Bom Jesus do Itabapoana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Ana Carolina Ribeiro de Oliveira
Cancer Hospital of Muriaé, Fundação Cristiano Varella, Muriaé, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Marcos Luiz Bezerra Junior
Cancer Hospital of Muriaé, Fundação Cristiano Varella, Muriaé, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Rodrigo Bastos Tostes
Cancer Hospital of Muriaé, Fundação Cristiano Varella, Muriaé, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Radiodermatitis is a common problem in breast cancer treatment with ionizing radiation. It may result in interruption of radiotherapy, depending on the level of the skin lesion. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Cavilon™ (3M, St. Paul, MN, USA), a novel prophylactic agent, in preventing mammary radiodermatitis compared to conventional sunflower oil. This prospective study involved 19 breast cancer patients receiving radiotherapy. Participants received Cavilon™ on one breast quadrant and sunflower oil on the opposite quadrant. The occurrence and severity of radiodermatitis were assessed twice weekly over 25 treatment sessions. Post-treatment assessments indicated that 16% of the Cavilon™-treated quadrants exhibited no radiodermatitis (stage 0), compared to 11% in the sunflower oil-treated quadrants. The mean degree of radiodermatitis was 0.95 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.61-1.29) with Cavilon™ vs. 1.37 (95% CI: 0.97-1.77) with sunflower oil, a statistically significant difference (paired t-test: p=0.016; Wilcoxon signed-rank test: p=0.021). Progression to stage 3 occurred in 5% of Cavilon™-treated quadrants vs. 11% with sunflower oil. The findings suggest that Cavilon™ is more effective than sunflower oil in mitigating the progression of radiodermatitis in breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. Its application is a beneficial addition to the skin management protocol in radiation oncology.

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Supporting Agencies

Paula de Paula Casotti and Ulisses de Barros Ramos were supported by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES). Sérgio Gomes da Silva was supported by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq; # 301771/2022-7) and by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais [(FAPEMIG; Rede Mineira de Pesquisa Translacional em Oncologia (RED-00059-23)].

How to Cite



1.
de Paula Casotti P, Gomes da Silva S, de Barros Ramos U, Silveira BJ, dos Santos Cardoso F, Ribeiro de Oliveira AC, et al. Protective effect of Cavilon™ on radiodermatitis in breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. Dermatol Reports [Internet]. 2026 Feb. 26 [cited 2026 Jun. 8];. Available from: https://journals.pagepress.net/dr/article/view/10026
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