Lambert KA, Albright BB, Anastasio MK, Kaplan SJ, McNally L. Scalp hypothermia to reduce chemotherapy-induced alopecia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Gynecol Oncol 2024;
188:71-80. [PMID:
38936283 DOI:
10.1016/j.ygyno.2024.06.012]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) is a common and emotionally-taxing side effect of chemotherapy, including taxane agents used frequently in treatment of gynecologic cancers. Scalp hypothermia, also known as "cold caps", is a possible method to prevent severe CIA, studied primarily in the breast cancer population.
OBJECTIVES
To compile existing data on scalp hypothermia in cancer patients receiving taxane chemotherapy in order to investigate its application to the gynecologic cancer population.
SEARCH STRATEGY
MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Cochrane were searched through January 31, 2023.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Full-text manuscripts reporting on the results of scalp hypothermia in patients receiving taxane-based chemotherapy.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Binomial proportions were summed, and random-effects meta-analyses performed.
MAIN RESULTS
From 1424 records, we included 31 studies, representing 14 different countries. Only 5 studies included gynecologic cancer patients. We extracted the outcome of the proportion of patients with <50% hair loss. Among 2179 included patients, 60.7% were reported to have <50% hair loss (meta-analysis: 60.6%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 54.9-66.1%). Among the 28 studies reporting only on taxane-based chemotherapy, the rate of <50% hair loss was 60.0% (meta-analysis: 60.9%, (95% CI: 54.9-66.7%). In comparative studies, hair loss was significantly less in patients who received scalp hypothermia versus those who did not (49.3% versus 0% with <50% hair loss; OR 40.3, 95% CI: 10.5-154.8). Scalp cooling achieved <50% hair loss in patients receiving paclitaxel (67.7%; meta-analysis 69.9%, 95% CI 64.1-75.4%) and docetaxel (57.1%; meta-analysis 60.5%, 95% CI 50.0-71.6%). Meta-analysis on patient satisfaction in regard to scalp cooling found a satisfaction rate of 78.9% (95% CI 69.1-87.4%).
CONCLUSION
Scalp hypothermia may be an effective method to reduce some cases of CIA due to taxane chemotherapy, especially paclitaxel. More trials need to be done to determine the precise effects of scalp hypothermia in gynecologic cancer patients.
Collapse