Effectiveness of the MSC cold cap system in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced alopecia

• Published in: Oncology Vol. 62; no. 2; p. 97
• Main Authors: Christodoulou, C, Klouvas, G, Efstathiou, E, Zervakis, D, Papazachariou, E, Plyta, M, Skarlos, D V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland 01-01-2002
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Alopecia - chemically induced; Alopecia - diagnosis; Alopecia - prevention & control; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic - adverse effects; Antineoplastic Agents - adverse effects; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - adverse effects; Etoposide - adverse effects; Female; Humans; Hypothermia, Induced; Ifosfamide - adverse effects; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Paclitaxel - adverse effects; Scalp; Severity of Illness Index; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0030-2414
• DOI: 10.1159/000048253

To study the effectiveness of the MSC cold cap system to prevent chemotherapy-induced alopecia.
The system was applied in 83 cancer patients (mean age 49.8 years) undergoing chemotherapy with alopecia-causing agents. Seven patients did not tolerate the system. Seventy-six patients were evaluable for assessment; 26 received anthracycline (group A), 33 taxane (group T), 5 anthracycline plus taxane (group AT), 7 intravenous etoposide (group E) and 5 ifosfamide with or without other alopecia-causing drugs (group I). In group A, 18 patients received conventional (subgroup Ac) and 8 high doses (subgroup Ah). In group T, 8 patients received docetaxel (subgroup D) and 25 paclitaxel (subgroup P). Alopecia grade 0-1 (Dean's system) was considered as treatment success.
Grade 0-1 alopecia was achieved in 49/76 (64.5%) patients: group T 23/33 (69.6%), subgroup P 16/25 (64%) and subgroup D 7/8 (87.5%); group A 18/26 (69.2%), subgroup Ac 16/18 (88.8%) and subgroup Ah 2/8 (25%); group AT 1/5 (20%); group E 6/7 (85.7%), and group I 1/5 (20%).
The MSC cold cap system is effective in preventing alopecia from anthracycline, etoposide or taxane but not from anthracycline-taxane combinations or ifosfamide-containing regimens.