Scalp Cooling for Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia in Patients of Color (NCT05213936)
Scalp Cooling for Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia in Patients of Color: A Clinical and Mechanistic Study
🩺 Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)
The purpose of this study is to evaluate hairstyling techniques aimed at increasing efficacy of scalp cooling in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced alopecia, determine scalp cooling effect on persistent chemotherapy-induced alopecia, and elucidate molecular mechanisms and predictive biomarkers associated with scalp cooling success in patients with skin of color receiving chemotherapy for breast or non-small cell lung cancer. This study is being conducted because prior studies have found scalp cooling to be highly effective in preventing hair loss resulting from chemotherapy. However, minority representation was largely limited in completed trials. A recent study found that scalp cooling devices are less efficacious in patients with skin of color, likely because patients with skin of color have hair is predominantly types 3 (curly) and 4 (kinky), which tend to become bulkier when wet and can interfere with scalp cooling cap fitting. The investigators plan to test two techniques aimed at improving scalp cooling efficacy in patients with skin of color through hairstyling methods that minimize hair volume in order to increase cooling cap to scalp contact: 1) cornrows/braids/twists or 2) water/conditioner emulsion on hair. Preliminary data show that breast cancer patients with type 3 or 4 hair receiving taxane chemotherapy and scalp cooling using these techniques to prepare the hair for scalp cooling cap fitting all experienced hair preservation. Additionally, the investigators will also assess persistent chemotherapy-induced alopecia outcomes and incidence by following patients up to 6 months after completing treatment. Finally, specific gene expression changes in taxane-induced chemotherapy-induced alopecia in vitro have been described previously. The investigators will test the hypothesis that scalp cooling reverses such changes in chemotherapy-induced alopecia, assess for biomarkers predictive for scalp cooling success, and investigate persistent chemotherapy-induced alopecia molecular mechanisms using non-invasive transcriptome sequencing on plucked hair follicles.
Who can join: Review the eligibility criteria below.
Location: Montefiore Medical Center — The Bronx, New York
Age range: 18 Years
🧪 Interventions in This Study
📋 "Do I Qualify?" — 1-Minute Self Screener
Instant ChecklistFull eligibility criteria are available on the official NIH protocol. View the criteria ↗
📍 All Participating Trial Locations (1 Sites)
- Montefiore Medical Center — The Bronx, New York
📞 Contact the Study Coordinator
Phone: (718) 862-8840
Email: bmclella@montefiore.org
Coordinator details come directly from the registered NIH protocol. Confirm the study is still recruiting before traveling.
💰 Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights
- 100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
- Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA § 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
- Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.
More studies in Alopecia
- Study Of Cold Cap Therapy For Prevention of Hairloss in Pediatric Patients Receiving Chemotherapy For Non-Malignant Indications and Solid Tumors — Memphis, Tennessee
- Study to Assess the Ability of the Portable Scalp Cooling System (PSCS) to Prevent Hair Loss — Tucson, Arizona
- 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 — Kingsport, Tennessee
Explore by condition: All Alopecia clinical trials
💡 How to Participate
- Check the checklist above to see if you may qualify.
- Contact the study coordinator using the phone/email above.
- Ask about the visit schedule, what is covered at no cost, and any travel support.
- Confirm with your own doctor before making a decision.