Evaluation of Scalp Cooling During Chemotherapy on Quality of Life and the Potential Role of Single Nucleotide Variations on Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia and Hair Regrowth in the Appalachian Highlands Region

Evaluation of Scalp Cooling During Chemotherapy on Quality of Life and the Potential Role of Single Nucleotide Variations on Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia and Hair Regrowth in the Appalachian Highlands Region

This single-blind, randomized controlled trial is proposed to assess the effects of the PAXMAN Scalp Cooling System on the quality of life of breast cancer subjects receiving any treatment regimen consisting of a chemotherapy agent known to cause chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA). Quality of life will be measured using the Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia Distress Scale (CADS) for cancer patients pre-and post-treatment. Simultaneously, the effect of scalp cooling on hair retention and regrowth will be determined by self-reported grading of photographic assessment using the Alopecia (Hair Loss) Pictorial Tool. Results will be correlated with presence of single nucleotide variations (SNVs) rs3820706 in the CACNB4 gene and rs1202179 in the ABCB1 gene. Participants will be blinded to genetic results until the completion of the study to prevent bias, as knowing results could influence the participants' behavior.

100 subjects, 50 per cohort: 1) Treatment Arm - receiving CIA treatment with the PAXMAN Scalp Cooling System and 2) Control Arm - No hair retention treatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• All patients with a diagnosis of stage I - III breast cancer, with planned therapy using any anthracycline- or taxane-based regimen.
• Age ≥18 years
• A documented informed consent will be obtained prior to inclusion in the study. All discussions with patients will be held in strictest confidence and out of earshot of the general public. Patients will be fully informed that their participation in the study is voluntary. Patients may decline to be part of the study. Their decision to participate in the study will not affect the care they receive.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Stage IV disease
• Patients planning to shave their hair to the skin during chemotherapy treatment. Haircuts or trims will be permitted if they do not inhibit hair density analysis.
• Intolerance to the PAXMAN Scalp Cooling System, including any contraindicated situations (i.e., hematological malignancies, cold urticarial, cold agglutinin disease, scalp metastases, any planned bone marrow ablation chemotherapy, and/or any skull irradiation).
• Scalp lesions or pain that would be exacerbated by the PAXMAN Scalp Cooling cap.