Randomized Phase III Trial With Mepitel Film for the Prophylaxis of Radiation Dermatitis in Breast Cancer Patients
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04166799 |
Recruitment Status :
Active, not recruiting
First Posted : November 18, 2019
Last Update Posted : August 1, 2022
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Breast Cancer Radiation Dermatitis | Device: Mepitel Film | Phase 3 |
Breast cancer patients undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy commonly experience radiation-induced skin toxicities which adversely impact patients' quality of life. These skin toxicities may present in the form of acute reactions including erythema, pruritus or moist desquamation and late toxicities in the form of hyperpigmentation or fibrosis. The development of severe skin toxicities may result in treatment interruptions or increase the risk of reconstructive complications. Importantly, patients receiving radiotherapy to the chest wall or patients with larger breast size are more likely to have more severe skin reactions. In the last few decades, there have been no significant advances in preventing or treating radiation-induced skin toxicities.
A phase III randomized trial was conducted by Herst et al. (n=78) in New Zealand which showed that the prophylactic use of Mepitel Film prevented moist desquamation (26% vs. 0%, p < 0.001) and reduced skin reaction severity by 92% (p < 0.001) compared to skin treated only with aqueous cream. Mepitel Film has not been adopted in routine practice in North America as more convincing proof may be needed from international multi-centre trials to influence changes in standard clinical practice guidelines. A phase II feasibility study has recently been completed at Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre and the preliminary results have shown reductions in severe skin reactions.
Mayo Clinic has also completed a phase II pilot study which, like the feasibility study conducted at our centre, yielded promising results. The Alliance trial group in the US is planning for a phase III multi-centre trial for post-mastectomy patients receiving conventional radiation treatment. As the Alliance trial is only enrolling post-mastectomy patients receiving conventional radiotherapy, our study will additionally investigate outcomes for post-mastectomy patients receiving hypofractionated radiation treatment. Additionally, the investigators will be enrolling patients with large breasts [bra size 36 in and/or C cup or greater] as these patients are at known risk for developing increased acute skin toxicities
A randomized controlled trial is a critical next step in establishing whether Mepitel Film reduces acute and long-term skin toxicity in post-mastectomy and large breasted patients and in order for it to become standard of care in breast radiotherapy. This study plans to enroll 216 patients in a 2:1 ratio (2 Mepitel Film: 1 institutional standard of care).
The primary objective is to compare the efficacy of Mepitel Film versus the institutional standard of care in reducing the severity of radiation dermatitis in patients undergoing whole breast or chest wall radiotherapy. Secondary objectives include an evaluation of patient-reported and healthcare professional (HCP)-reported skin toxicities including moist desquamation with the use of Meptiel Film.
Radiation oncologists will first introduce the study to their patients in their breast clinic, showing a sample of the product and also pictures from the trial conducted in New Zealand. Patients if interested may be provided a patient information sheet to review at home. Then, patients will be approached by a CRA at their radiation planning appointment to review all information and obtain informed consent.
For patients randomized to the Mepitel Film arm, patients will receive the film for the entire duration of treatment. Radiation treatment will be delivered as prescribed by the treating radiation oncologist irrespective of study arm and may include a variety of techniques and beam modifiers.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Estimated Enrollment : | 216 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Intervention Model Description: | Patients receiving chest wall radiation or patients with large breast size (bra size 36 in and/or C cup or greater) will be randomized 2:1 to receive either Mepitel Film or the institutional standard of care skin treatments. |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Supportive Care |
Official Title: | A Randomized Phase III Trial With Mepitel Film for the Prophylaxis of Radiation Dermatitis in Adjuvant Breast Radiation Treatment |
Actual Study Start Date : | January 30, 2020 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | December 2024 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | December 2024 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: Mepitel Film Arm
Patients randomized to the Mepitel Film arm will receive the film for the entire duration of their radiation treatment and will be worn up to 2 weeks after completion of radiotherapy.
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Device: Mepitel Film
Mepitel® Film is a thin, soft and conformable transparent film dressing with Safetac®, offering protection for vulnerable skin. |
No Intervention: Standard of Care Arm
Patients randomized to the Standard of Care arm will be instructed to use the institutional standard of care skin treatments for the entire duration of their radiation treatment and up to 2 weeks after completion of radiotherapy.
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- Number of participants with treatment-related radiation-induced skin toxicity as assessed by the CTCAE v.5.0. [ Time Frame: Within 3 months following radiation ]Number of participants with radiation-induced skin toxicities as assessed by the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v.5.0, comparing changes in the treated versus non-treated breast or chest wall from baseline to weekly during radiation treatment and once a week for 6 weeks post-treatment.
- Number of participants with acute radiation-induced skin toxicities as assessed by a healthcare provider using the CTCAE v5.0. [ Time Frame: Within 3 months following radiotherapy ]Number of participants with radiation-induced skin toxicities as assessed by a healthcare provider using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v.5., change from baseline scores on a verbal rating scale compared to weekly assessments during radiation treatment and weekly for 6 weeks post-treatment. Subscales for itchiness, pain/soreness, blistering/peeling, redness, discolouration/darkness, swelling and trouble fitting brassieres graded as "none" (best), "mild", "moderate" or "severe" (worst).
- Number of participants with acute radiation-induced skin toxicities as assessed by the participant using the CTCAE v5.0. [ Time Frame: Within 3 months following radiotherapy ]Number of participants with radiation-induced skin toxicities as assessed by the participant using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v.5., change from baseline scores on a verbal rating scale compared to weekly assessments during radiation treatment and weekly for 6 weeks post-treatment. Subscales for itchiness, pain/soreness, blistering/peeling, redness, discolouration/darkness, swelling and trouble fitting brassieres graded as "none" (best), "mild", "moderate" or "severe" (worst).
- Number of participants with late radiation-induced skin toxicities as assessed by a healthcare provider using the CTCAE v5.0. [ Time Frame: 6, 12 and 24 months following radiotherapy ]Number of participants with radiation-induced skin toxicities as assessed by a healthcare provider using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v.5., change from baseline scores on a verbal rating scale compared to weekly assessments during radiation treatment and weekly for 6 weeks post-treatment. Subscales for itchiness, pain/soreness, blistering/peeling, redness, discolouration/darkness, swelling and trouble fitting brassieres graded as "none" (best), "mild", "moderate" or "severe" (worst).
- Number of participants with late radiation-induced skin toxicities as assessed by the participant using the CTCAE v5.0. [ Time Frame: 6, 12 and 24 months following radiotherapy ]Number of participants with radiation-induced skin toxicities as assessed by the participant using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v.5., change from baseline scores on a verbal rating scale compared to weekly assessments during radiation treatment and weekly for 6 weeks post-treatment. Subscales for itchiness, pain/soreness, blistering/peeling, redness, discolouration/darkness, swelling and trouble fitting brassieres graded as "none" (best), "mild", "moderate" or "severe" (worst).
- Number of participants with reconstruction complications as assessed by the BREAST-Q PROMS modules for breast-conserving therapy and reconstruction. [ Time Frame: 12 and 24 months post-radiotherapy ]Number of participants with reconstruction complications as assessed by a clinician using the BREAST-Q PROMS for breast-conserving therapy and reconstruction to determine the efficacy of Mepitel Film in decreasing rates of reconstruction complications.

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age ≥ 18 years.
- Male or female.
- Histological confirmation of breast malignancy (invasive or in situ carcinoma) or phyllodes.
- Patients have undergone a mastectomy with or without reconstruction.
- Patients with large breasts [bra size 36 in and/or C cup or greater] and have undergone breast-conserving surgery.
- Patients are scheduled to receive conventionally- (50Gy/25#) or hypo-fractionated (42.56Gy/16#) photon-based radiation.
- Patients treated with or without the addition of tissue equivalent bolus or boost.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patients planning brachytherapy within the treatment field, and patients scheduled to receive bilateral radiation.
- Prior radiotherapy to any portion of the planned treatment site.
- Active rash or pre-existing dermatitis within the treatment field.
- Known prior history of adhesive, tape or silicon allergy or sensitivity.
- Concomitant cytotoxic chemotherapy.
- Current inflammatory breast cancer or gross dermal involvement at initiation of radiotherapy.
- Karnofsky Performance Status < 60.

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT04166799
Canada, Ontario | |
Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre | |
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4N3M5 |
Principal Investigator: | Edward LW Chow, MBBS | Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre |
Responsible Party: | Dr. Edward Chow, Co-Principal Investigator with Dr. Irene Karam [ikaram], Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT04166799 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
Mepitel RCT |
First Posted: | November 18, 2019 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | August 1, 2022 |
Last Verified: | July 2022 |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
Barrier Film Mepitel Quality of life Radiation Dermatitis Skin toxicity |
Breast Neoplasms Dermatitis Radiodermatitis Neoplasms by Site Neoplasms |
Breast Diseases Skin Diseases Radiation Injuries Wounds and Injuries |