An Innovative Complex of Benzene-Poly-Carboxylic Acid and Molybdenum, for Prevention and Treatment of Radiation Dermatitis

Radiation dermatitis occurs in up to 95 percent of patients receiving radiotherapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether topical application of a new Benzene-Poly-Carboxylic Acid and Molybdenum Complex (BP-C2) prophylactically could protect mice skin from irradiation-induced dermatitis or treat irradiation-induced skin dermatitis, when it already has occurred. The right posterior leg of male BALB/cfC3H mice was exposed to radiation dose of 30 Gy. For prevention studies, animals were treated with BP-C2 just prior to irradiation and three times a week for 5 weeks post-radiation. For treatment studies, animals were treated with PB-C2 three times a week for five weeks when skin injury was appeared following irradiation exposure. Animals were sacrificed and skin damage was assessed using a non-linear semi-quantitative scale, as well as histological studies. Acute skin dermatitis was observed in all control animals (n=8) following 30 Gy irradiation in form of edema and ulceration grade 4. No signs of skin dermatitis were observed in the irradiated area of animals (n=8) treated with BP-C2 prior to irradiation exposure. Moreover, treatment of injured animals with BP-C2 three times a week resulted in recovery of the skin and no erythema or ulceration was hereafter observed. BP-C2 represents a potentially promising agent for prevention and treatment of irradiation-induced skin dermatitis.