A scalp cooling system designed to prevent chemotherapy-induced alopecia: Our experience with implementation at a Spanish public hospital.
Authors: Esther Millastre, Irene Torres Ramon, Maria Eugenia Mora, Juan Lao Romera, Teresa Puertolas, Jorge Hernando-Cubero, Julia Madani, Ana Comin, Maria Pilar Felices, Isabel Pajares Bernad, Maria Alvarez, Ana Cebollero, Noemi Lopez, Laura Garcia, Eulalia Anadon, Isabel Perez, Pilar Palacin, Reyes Guallart, Angel Artal-Cortes, Antonio Anton
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2016)

Article Tools Patient and Survivor Care Article Tools OPTIONS & TOOLS Export Citation Track Citation Add To Favorites Rights & Permissions COMPANION ARTICLES No companion articles ARTICLE CITATION DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2016.34.15_suppl.e21660 Journal of Clinical Oncology - published online before print May 20, 2016 A scalp cooling system designed to prevent chemotherapy-induced alopecia: Our experience with implementation at a Spanish public hospital. Esther MillastrexEsther MillastreSearch for articles by this author, Irene Torres RamonxIrene Torres RamonSearch for articles by this author, Maria Eugenia MoraxMaria Eugenia MoraSearch for articles by this author, Juan Lao RomeraxJuan Lao RomeraSearch for articles by this author, Teresa PuertolasxTeresa PuertolasSearch for articles by this author, Jorge Hernando-CuberoxJorge Hernando-CuberoSearch for articles by this author, Julia MadanixJulia MadaniSearch for articles by this author, Ana CominxAna CominSearch for articles by this author, Maria Pilar FelicesxMaria Pilar FelicesSearch for articles by this author, Isabel Pajares BernadxIsabel Pajares BernadSearch for articles by this author, Maria AlvarezxMaria AlvarezSearch for articles by this author, Ana CebolleroxAna CebolleroSearch for articles by this author, Noemi LopezxNoemi LopezSearch for articles by this author, Laura GarciaxLaura GarciaSearch for articles by this author, Eulalia AnadonxEulalia AnadonSearch for articles by this author, Isabel PerezxIsabel PerezSearch for articles by this author, Pilar PalacinxPilar PalacinSearch for articles by this author, Reyes GuallartxReyes GuallartSearch for articles by this author, Angel Artal-CortesxAngel Artal-CortesSearch for articles by this author, Antonio AntonxAntonio AntonSearch for articles by this author Show More Miguel Servet University Hospital, Aragon's Health Research Institute, Zaragoza, Spain; Hospital Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, Spain; Medical Oncology, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, Spain; Miguel Servet University Hospital, Zaragoza, Spain; Hospital Universitario Miquel Servet, Zaragota, Spain; H. Universitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, Spain; Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, SpainAbstract Disclosures https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2016.34.15_suppl.e21660 Abstract Abstracte21660Background: Alopecia is a common side effect of chemotherapy (CT) used in the treatment of breast cancer, which affects drastically patients’ quality of life. "Dignicap" is the first scalp cooling system destined to minimize it, which has been studied under a clinical trial, and it has just been approved by FDA on December 2015. Methods: The main aim of this project is to evaluate the implementation of "Dignicap" at a tertiary university hospital. For this purpose, we analyzed the additional time spent on the procedure by way of questionnaires filled by the nursery team in each cycle during all the treatment. In addition to this goal, efficacy and security of the technique, also have been studied as secondary endpoints. Regarding efficacy, some observational questions have been included in questionnaires to quantify hair lose using Dean’s scale modified to five percentage-based categories: grade 0 (no hair loss), grade 1 (˂25%), grade 2 (25-50%), grade 3 (50-75%), grade 4 (˃75%). Tolerability was measured by the percentage of patients who completed all planned cycles using "Dignicap". We also registered all symptoms related by patients during the process. Between November 2014 and January 2016 a total of 58 operated breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant CT were included, 42 of whom have concluded their treatment. 59´5% were treated with taxanes only, while 40´5% received anthracyclines with sequential taxanes. Trastuzumab was added to CT in 9,5%. Results: The mean extra time dedicated to the technique was 2 hours and 34 minutes (range 2:10 – 3:15), excluding the time spent on CT administration. Even though we often made the most of the pre-cooling time to administer the premedication to CT. "Dignicap" prevented significant hair loss (˃50%) in 88´8% of total cycles administered, and most of them (52´5%) presented a grade 1 alopecia. 35 patients (83,3%) completed the project. No toxicity was reported in the 77´9% of the cycles. Headache and dizziness (6,4 and 4.8% respectively) were the most common adverse effects registered. Conclusions: "Dignicap" seems to be feasible, effective and well-tolerated for patients in preventing CT-induced alopecia at a tertiary hospital.© 2016 by American Society of Clinical Oncology