An Exploratory Evaluation of Biomarkers in Blister Fluid in Healthy Volunteers and Irradiated Skin

BACKGROUND Blister fluid has been used to measure cytokine expression, proteomic profiles, and pharmacokinetics in a variety of disease states. Blister fluid inside radiation treatment fields has been shown to have altered expression of cytokines and products of collagen metabolism. Evaluation of blister fluid in normal skin inside and outside the radiation field may allow the development of a minimally invasive marker of radiation exposure or damage induced by radiation in irradiated skin. OBJECTIVES This protocol will evaluate the ability to determine a cytokine pattern and global changes at the protein level measured in blister fluid that correlates with radiation exposure, absorbed skin dose, or skin toxicity from patients receiving radiation. ELIGIBILITY Patients in whom radiotherapy is required for standard management of theirbreast or prostate cancer. Healthy volunteers with no history of cutaneous inflammatory condition of the skin such as eczema, or psoriasis. DESIGN This protocol is designed to evaluate blister fluid in and out of the radiation field in patients that are receiving radiation therapy and in healthy volunteers. Patients will undergo blister induction and blister fluid collection prior to treatment outside of the radiation field, and after completion of radiation within the radiation field. Blisters will be induced in a non-sun exposed area and if possible in matched sites (i.e. left and right).