The action of topical application of Vitamin B(12) ointment on radiodermatitis in a porcine model

Radiodermatitis is an inevitable side effect of radiotherapy in cancer treatment and there is currently no consensus on effective drugs for treating the condition. Vitamin B(12) is known to be effective for repairing and regenerating damaged skin. However, there are few studies on the use of Vitamin B(12) for treating radiodermatitis. This study explored the therapeutic efficacy and mechanism of action of Vitamin B(12) ointment on radiodermatitis. A porcine model of grade IV radiodermatitis was established. The ointment was applied for 12 weeks after which histological staining, transmission electron microscopy, RT‐qPCR, western blotting, and gene sequencing were performed for the evaluation of specific indicators in skin samples. After 12 weeks of observation, the Vitamin B(12) treatment was found to have significantly alleviated radiodermatitis. The treatment also significantly reduced the expression levels of NF‐κB, COX‐2, IL‐6, and TGF‐β in the skin samples. The pathways involved in the effects of the treatment were identified by analysing gene expression. In conclusion, Vitamin B(12) ointment was found to be highly effective for treating radiodermatitis, with strong anti‐radiation, anti‐inflammatory, and anti‐fibrosis effects. It is thus a promising drug candidate for the treatment of severe radiodermatitis.